FAMILY FOR PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION

Family for Partnership and Collaboration



Family for Partnership and Collaboration

Referring to the scenario I will be considering the case of Lewis and his problem of asthma and Henry's role as a father to stop his smoking. During an asthma attack, a victim may suffer shortness of breath, as the bronchial airway is constricted. If not treated or reversed immediately, a severe asthma attack can result in low oxygen levels in the blood, depriving organs and muscles. But many asthma victims suffer more mild symptoms — some common ones include frequent respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, limitations on bearable physical activity or chest tightness — which can be difficult to detect, even by a medical professional. (Altschuler, Jenny. 1997 Pp. 67)

A child with one atopic parent is twice as likely as a child with nonatopic parents to develop atopy. A child with two atopic parents is four times as likely. As with allergic sensitisation, a family history of asthma also contributes to the risk of becoming asthmati Because of the inherent difficulty in detecting asthma, parents have to be educated and sensitive to subtle cues. Symptoms range from fatigue during moderate exercise to severe shortness of breath, heavy breathing and wheezing. Other symptoms may include: Runny nose and sneezing, headache, congestion, chest tightness, gray or bluish skin, and stressed breathing. There are many allergy symptoms beyond this list, and they will often correlate with the severity of the asthma condition. If you suspect your child has asthma, or you are curious about symptoms your child is exhibiting, talk to your pediatrician or an asthma specialist immediately. (Altschuler, Jenny. 1997 Pp. 67)

If the child's doctor has determined that your child has asthma, in addition to medicines like bronchodilators that open up the airways, they may recommend the use of a peak flow monitor to track your child's day-to-day breathing function. Many patients use a monitor to determine proper medication dosages. In addition to medical intervention, there are steps you can take to reduce your child's exposure to allergens that trigger asthma. Some common solutions include: Allergy testing for your child to determine whether pollens, dust mites, etc. are contributing to asthma symptoms, reducing the use of household chemicals, keeping your child indoors during high pollen days, keeping surfaces clean of dust and pet dander, and using an air purifier to keep dust out of the air. And parents should never allow smoking indoors. When an asthma victim has suffered repeated irritation to the bronchial passage, they can become more sensitive to the indoor environment, especially with regards to heating and air conditioning. HVAC systems that bring air from the outside can introduce allergens to an indoor environment, even with proper filtration. Looking at the relationship between people, groups of people and the study of the “ripple effect” between them is called Systemic Practice. Systemic thinking can be applied and practised in any line of work, but its influence on Family Therapy has been especially ...