Treatment of Asthma

Introduction

Source - Non Wikipedia Website

Website: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Asthma is caused due to improper functioning of lungs caused due to inflammation and narrowing of airways. The most common symptoms of asthma are cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing sound. These symptoms cause long term and variable airflow obstruction which is reversed with the treatment.

This disease usually starts during childhood and grows in the adulthood. Around 22 million American people are suffering from asthma out of which 6 million are children.

Descriptive Analysis of Information

Source - Wikipedia and magazine article

The following information is basically derived from “Wikipedia”. The clear classification of different stages and types of asthma was available only on this site. But, “asthma attack” is taken from magazine article.

Summary of Information

Brittle Asthma

Asthma is classified depending according to the frequency of symptoms, peak expiratory flow rate and forced expiratory volume per second. Brittle asthma is distinguished due to severe recurrent attacks. It is divided into two types. Type 1 brittle asthma patients often suffer peak flow variability despite using strong medication. On the other hand, type 2 asthma refers to several acute exacerbations but it is controlled asthma.

Asthma Attack

Source: magazine article 1: Preparing an Asthma Attack Action Plan

When exacerbation becomes severe combined with shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing is can be referred as asthma attack. However, in some cases air motion can be impaired which causes no wheezing sound.

Status Asthmaticus

An asthma which does not respond to steroids and bronchodilators combined with severe irritation or allergy can be referred to status asthmatics.

Exercise Induced

Often sportsmen feel shortness of breath and chest tightness in sports that require high stamina. Games like tennis, football, cycling, mountain biking and swimming can cause breathing problems. These problems can be treated through short-acting beta-II agonist.

Occupational

Employees working in workplaces that do not meet the minimum working standards set by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) often face occupational respiratory problems. Also, if the employees are surrounded by intoxicated chemicals, gases and materials, they may also face asthma attacks.

Source(s) - magazine and journal articles

The following information is taken from journal and magazine articles. The information was compiled and shaped into different paragraphs.

Summary of Information

In order to treat patients suffering from mild asthma, following steps can be taken:

Patient Education

Source: Journal article 1: New therapies and management strategies in the treatment of asthma: patient-focused developments

In this method, a system or peak flow based plan is recommended to patients suffering from acute asthma so that patients who are poor perceivers of dypnea can measure airflow limitation.

Adherent/Compliance

Source: Journal article 2: Current recommendations for the treatment of mild asthma

It is very important to check the adherence of medicines to different patients. If the prescribed medicine doesn't improve the respiratory functioning of any patient after a trial period of 3 months then it must be stopped and new medicine should be suggested.

Controlling Asthma Triggers

Source: magazine article 2: health: Asthma Alarm

The environmental and other factors that cause asthma triggers must be identified and controlled. These triggers can cause due to smoking, dust, ...