Background: occurs in 5% of U.S. population. Clinical triad of cough, wheezing, dyspnea. Often includes hyperresponsiveness to physical stimuli (including ETT). Triggered by infection (very common), airway irritants, allergens, drugs (aspirin and NSAIDs [leukotrienes], beta-antagonists, morphine [histamine release]). By definition, asthma is a reversible disease (a 12% increase in FEV1 following bronchodilator therapy is indicative […]