ASTHMA

Acute Asthma Patient



Acute Asthma Patient

Introduction

Asthma is a disease that affects the airways carrying air to and from your lungs. People who have been suffering from this condition for a long period or just got diagnosed are said to be asthmatic. When the inside walls of an asthmatic's airways swell or inflame it causes the airways extreme sensitivity to irritations which increases the chances to an allergic reaction. Because the inflammation the airways become narrower, which leads in lesser air passing through, to and from the lungs. (medicalnews, 2012)

Discussion

Brief Summary of Asthmas

The inflammation or swelling caused inside the airways, which makes the air passage harder to and from the lungs, is known as asthma. This problem can be since a long time or recently diagnosed. Symptoms of asthma from narrowing of the airways also include breathing problems, tightness of chest, wheezing and coughing. It usually gets worse frequently during early morning or night time. It is an incurable illness, but if the asthmatics are provided with good treatment and care there is no reason for an asthmatic to live a normal life and perform all the activities of daily life (medicalnews, 2012)

Describing the Asthma Attacks

Asthma attacks may vary every time; they can be mild, moderate or severe and can happen suddenly. As we know the asthma attack takes place when airways narrow making the airflow difficult and when more mucus produced in the airways reducing the airflow. When these airways are blocked making it harder for the oxygen to enter the lungs, this also stops the oxygen to travel to the body's vital organs and to enter the blood stream. As the attacks vary the milder attack somewhat allows enough air to pass through the lungs while not letting the carbon dioxide leave the lungs fast enough which is harmful for the lungs. Carbon dioxide is poisonous and it can build up in the lungs during a longer attack, which lowers the amount of oxygen passing through the bloodstream.

Understanding the patient's illness

Clinical trial shows that in majority of patients asthma can be controlled, but poor focus on the asthma can be still a burden. Both the behaviour of the patient and the healthcare professionals reflect the level of asthma. The challenge for healthcare professionals over here is to involve the patient in self management behaviours with maximum devotion towards the treatment, but these issues are related to the primary level of asthma where it can be managed. Clinical and health care exposures like concomitant rhinitis and triggers are important but behaviour of the patient also plays an important role in the well being. If the patient is being non cooperative and smokes, it may reduce the chances of effective treatment (Jenkins. G, 2009),

Three key implications emerged from the debate for health care professionals. Simple tools for assessing the asthma control. Questionnaires to record the patients reported outcomes and monitoring the biometric control for assessing the patients were the approach used. Second was to understand the poor controls of patients ...