Definition

Noun: A sudden, involuntary constriction (tightening) of the muscles in the walls of the bronchi (the airways leading to the lungs). This narrowing makes breathing out (exhalation) difficult and often produces a wheezing or noisy sound. Bronchospasm is a key symptom associated with respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis.

Usage

Bronchospasm is a medical term used to describe a specific physiological event. It is typically used in clinical, diagnostic, or patient education contexts. * The doctor diagnosed the wheezing as being caused by bronchospasm. * The medication works by relaxing the airway muscles to relieve bronchospasm. * Exposure to cold air can trigger a bronchospasm in susceptible individuals.

Advanced Usage

• Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB): A specific type of bronchospasm triggered by physical activity.
  • The athlete manages her exercise-induced bronchospasm with a pre-workout inhaler.
• The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) to modify other nouns.
  • The patient was experiencing bronchospasm symptoms.

Variants and Related Words

• Bronchospastic (adjective): Relating to or causing bronchospasm.
  • The drug has a bronchospastic effect in some patients.

Synonyms

• Airway constriction
• Bronchial spasm

Antonyms

• Bronchodilation (the widening of the bronchi)

Notes on Meaning

The core meaning is the event or condition of the airways constricting. It is not the disease itself but a primary symptom and mechanism of diseases like asthma. The "difficult and noisy exhalation" in the definition is the direct result of the bronchospasm.

Noun

1. a spasm of the bronchi that makes exhalation difficult and noisy; associated with asthma and bronchitis