In asthma, secretions are often described as thick. True or False?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not applicable
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (A)

In asthma, the inflammatory process drives mucus hypersecretion and changes in mucus that make it more viscous. Goblet cell hyperplasia and submucosal gland hypertrophy produce more mucus, and the mucus that is produced tends to be thick and tenacious, especially during an acute flare. Dehydration of the secretions and altered mucin composition further increase viscosity, leading to mucus plugging and airway obstruction. So describing secretions as thick is a typical and accurate finding in asthma. While secretions can vary, the common pattern in asthma is thick mucus that is hard to clear.