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Three Tubes Tridimensional Model ©

Summary

Three Tubes Tridimensional Model (TTT-M) is a simple and useful tool, to explain, in a few minutes, to children and families:

-What asthma is
-How asthma medicines work
-other application you can think about
 

Can I use it freely?

Yes you can.
Although TTT-M is protected by Copyright , non-profit use is permitted.
Please, for TTT-M citation:

Three Tubes Tridimensional Model
Carlos A. Diaz Vazquez©
www.respirar.org  

How to make a TTT-M?

It is very easy.

You only need three tubes (any type of material: wood, metal, cardboard...)

First Tube.-
Thickness wall: Thin
Inner part colour: white
Meaning: Health Bronchi

Second Tube.-
Thickness wall: average
Inner part colour: red
Meaning: Bronchi with inflammation

Third Tube.-
Thickness wall: Thick
Inner part colour: red
Meaning: Bronchi with inflammation and asthma exacerbation
 

Using the model to explain what asthma is

Topics

• Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways
• Episodic (or persistent) symptoms of airflow obstruction are present
• Children can have mild, moderate or severe exacerbations
• Most typical asthma symptoms due to inflammation and obstruction are cough and wheezing

TTT-M application

• First tube represents health children´s bronchi
• Second tube (inner red), represents bronchi of children who suffer asthma. Airway shows inflammation (red). Inflammation is an early and persistent component of asthma. Inflammation causes bronchi sensitivity to several factors (bronchial hyperresponsiveness) and causes (or not) asthma symptoms (see third tube)
• Third tube shows asthma exacerbation : bronchi with inflammation and airflow obstruction. Several obstruction degrees means different levels of severity.
  
   

Using the model to explain asthma medicines

Topics

• Asthma medication is divided into two general classes
• Antiinflammatory drugs. Long-term control medications. Therapy to suppress the inflammation. Antiinflammatory therapy must be used for a long time.
• Quick-relief medications. Used to provide prompt relief of bronchoconstriction and acute symptoms such as cough and wheezing

TTT-M application

• First tube represents health children´s bronchi
• Second tube (inner red). We use long-term control medications to suppress inner red colour (inflammation). Bronchi Inflammation cannot cause symptoms. Anyway, we need to use this medication for a long time to suppress airways inflammation.
• Third tube shows asthma exacerbation. We use Quick-relief medication (short-acting beta2-agonists). This medicine opens airways in a few minutes. But bronchi remain red and you need to continue with Long-term-control medication.
  
   

Other applications?

Of course...

• to explain night cough (caused both, by inflammation and night bronchi obstruction). 
• to explain what "variability" is in a peak flow chart (different degrees of bronchi obstruction between morning and evening)
  
  And other applications you can think about
  
  
  Help us to create new applications for TTT-M. We'd like to hear about it.
  
   

 People around the World using the TTT-M

 Discover People around the World using the TTT-M