...Asthma is a lung disease that is chronic and it aggravates and tightens the airways of a person. Asthma cause recurring periods of wheezing, which is a whistling sound when a person breathes, tightness in the chest area, a shortness of breath, and coughing (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). Coughing mostly happens at night time or either early in the morning. The airways are the tubes that carries air in and out of the lungs, so it is difficult for a person who has asthma because their airways are swollen and sensitive, the muscles around the airways become tight and makes the airway narrow, which causes the airflow to the lungs to decrease (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). The cells in the airway can possibly make more mucus than it usually does, which is a thick and sticky causing the airways to narrow even more (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). The causes of asthma is not exactly known, however, researchers have reason to believe that there are genetic and environmental reason that interact and cause asthma, in the early part of life. Some of the reasons are parents who has asthma, childhood respiratory infections, inherited tendencies, viral infections in infancy, and airborne allergens, mostly during their early childhood. The triggers of asthma can differ from person to person. Tobacco Smoke or secondhand smoke is a trigger for asthma because the smoke that is created by someone smoking is breathed in by someone...
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...Asthma Describe the Disease: Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that affects the airways and causes them to become very swollen and sensitive to the air that you breathe. With this disease you can get what is called an asthma attack, this is where your airways become narrower, making it difficult to breathe. You may notice that someone is having an asthma attack if the person begins wheezing, getting a tight chest/ chest pains, breathing problems, and coughing. There are different types of asthma depending on your age and what causes you asthma to get worse. There is Child-Onset Asthma, Adult-Onset Asthma, Exercise-Induced Asthma, Cough-Induced Asthma, Occupational Asthma, Nocturnal Asthma, and Steroid-Resistant Asthma. Asthma is different for all patients so what they react to is different, for the most part, patients tend to have symptoms from common allergens in the environment, exposure to particles or chemicals in everyday things, during/ after exercise. Asthma can prevent you from doing physical activity, and/ or going outside and being able to breathe normally during the months with dust and mold. This disease is still not curable but there are ways to control it. Doctors Treatment: You should see your doctor regularly and make an asthma plan to help control your asthma, because most asthma is physically active induced, it may be difficult to get you on a plan that will help keep you healthy. This is called an asthma action plan which will help you...
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...Asthma Bronchial asthma; Exercise-induced asthma Last reviewed: July 14, 2010. PubMed Health U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health National Center for Biotechnology Information U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways, which causes attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. See also: Pediatric asthma Causes, incidence, and risk factors Asthma is caused by inflammation in the airways. When an asthma attack occurs, the muscles surrounding the airways become tight and the lining of the air passages swells. This reduces the amount of air that can pass by. In sensitive people, asthma symptoms can be triggered by breathing in allergy-causing substances (called allergens or triggers). Common asthma triggers include: * Animals (pet hair or dander) * Dust * Changes in weather (most often cold weather) * Chemicals in the air or in food * Exercise * Mold * Pollen * Respiratory infections, such as the common cold * Strong emotions (stress) * Tobacco smoke Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) provoke asthma in some patients. Many people with asthma have a personal or family history of allergies, such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or eczema. Others have no history of allergies. Symptoms Most people with asthma have attacks...
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...Topic: The Life-threatening Disease Asthma Organization: Topical Specific Purpose: At the end of my presentation, I want my audience to be educated on the conditions of asthma, how to manage the disease, and how to help someone under an attack. I. INTRODUCTION A. Attention Getter: What illness do you think is the leading cause for children missing 14.4 school days and 14.2 million adults missing a workday? Well I personally thought the common cold or fever would be the leading cause, but in 2008 the American Lung Association deemed Asthma as the illness responsible (“Asthma”, 2010) B. Relevance: Allergy season is here. Since allergies are a main contributing cause of asthma attacks, it is important to know the signs and symptoms which could save the lives of many and even your own. C. Credibility: Having my first asthma attack at the age of 10 was a terrifying experience. My lungs began closing up and I did not know whether I was going to breath again. However, my coach knew exactly what was happening to me and helped me through every step of the attack, saving my life. Because of the impact of my coach being educated on this life-threatening disease, I feel it’s truly necessary for my community to be capable of the same actions on anyone who may have a potential attack. D. Central Idea: Asthma is a disease that affects millions of people. If you or someone you know is affected by it, the importance to fully understand the condition is key to...
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...Asthma Asthma is a chronic lung disease which inflames and narrows the airways. Inflammation causes the airways to swell and become sensitive. Symptoms are prominent when the airways are obstructed. Sometimes the symptoms go away on their own or with minor treatment. There is no known cure for asthma. You will have the disease even when symptoms subside, because you can have a flare up at anytime. Etiology Asthma is caused by different triggers. Each person has a different trigger, what may trigger my asthma may be different for you. Some triggers are allergens, such as animal fur, mold or pollen irritant, cigarette smoke, and air pollution. Sprays such as hairspray or air fresheners can cause your airways to be blocked. Medications such as beta blockers and NSAIDs can also cause your airways to flare. Physical activity, including exercise is another trigger. Signs and Symptoms There are many signs and symptoms that can determine an asthma attack, some of them are coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and dyspnea (shortness of breath). Coughing is worst at night or early in the morning, making it difficult for you to sleep. Wheezing sounds like a whistling or squeaky sound, it is done during aspiration. When your chest tightens it feels as though someone is squeezing you or sitting directly on your chest, which makes it harder for you to breath. Epidemiology Asthma affects 5-10% of the population or an estimated 23.4 million persons, including 7 million children. It...
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...Asthma An important issue that needs to be further researched in the health care field is Asthma. Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs; it causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing (CDC, 2014). Asthma affects children and adults, but is deemed the most common long-term disease among children (CDC, 2014). It is a prevalent disease in the United States affecting 25.7 million people, including 7.0 million children (CDC, 2015). The reason it is important to continue further research on Asthma is because in most cases, the causes remain unknown. With such a large number of people affected by this disease, research related to this issue is important from an organizations perspective. Organizations have the duty to ensure that health care is affordable and accessible to those who are in need of health care. Curing asthma would be a great start in cost reduction; price cuts are a necessary component in making health care more affordable. Research There are a multitude of research applications that can be applied to one’s thinking and decision making as a heath care professional in regards to Asthma. Health care professionals must direct their research to the cause of Asthma. Without knowing the cause, a cure will be obsolete and treatment options will only be help to control the disease, never cure. Programs such as the National Center for Health Statistics and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion are working...
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...In Sophie’s life there have been five different life factors that have affected her development as an individual. These include genetical factors, socioeconomical factors, environmental factors, biological factors and her employment status. All these factors affect her physical, emotional, intellectual and social development. Genetical Factors: Sophie’s Asthma Medical Condition Asthma is a genetical inherited medical condition that affects her physical development throughout her life stages. Asthma affects the small airways, bronchioles, which carry air in and out of the lungs. Therefore Sophie’s airways can become inflamed, swollen and constricted; this physically puts extra strain on her body when she exercises, making her breathless and dizzy because there is not enough oxygen within the body to make her muscles work properly when exercising. Sophie’s asthma affects her emotional development; this is shown as she still gets embarrassed and frustrated when out in public. When Sophie exercises her asthma causes her to become breathless and light headed very easily. Sophie therefore keeps an inhaler on her. Emotionally she has become slightly unstable at times when faced by embarrassment in front of others. Sophie’s intellectual development shows how she has learned to understand her condition and how to try to avoid triggering an attack. Through support and advice through health care professionals such as health visitors; she has come to terms with accepting that...
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...Asthma Introduction In today's society children are faced with many problems in their day to day life. However, there is one disorder that affects many children and can be potentially fatal if not caught and treated correctly. This disorder is call asthma. The National Center for Biotechnology Information defines asthma as, "Asthma is a disorder that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightening, and coughing." Asthma mostly effects younger boys and effects adult women more than adult males. In the United States there are around 18.7 million children that have some type of asthma, which is about every 1 and 12. The number of people diagnosed with asthma grew by 4.3 million from 2001 to 2009. From 2001 through 2009 asthma rates rose the most among black children, almost a 50% increase. In a study in 2007 there was 3,447 asthma related deaths in the United States. Nine deaths a day were caused by this disorder. There are many different types of treatment that can be used to help cure or manage asthma if diagnosed correctly. Many children do not receive the medication the need due to lack of insurance coverage, no health benefits or they do not get the right diagnosis. Asthma costs in the US grew from about $53 billion in 2002 to about $56 billion in 2007, about a 6% increase. Greater access to medical care is needed for the growing number of people with asthma. Asthma cost the US about $3,300 per person with...
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...Living with Asthma missing works cited The weather in Boston is just beginning to feel cooler as Maeve Vaillancourt, a Northeastern University sophomore rushes to her first class of the day. Although she is already behind schedule, she huddles in a corner to take a dose of her Abuterol inhaler, then finishes her ten-minute walk and slips into class late. “I hate taking my inhaler in public, because it is embarrassing, but after quick walks like that, I need to or else I feel as if I can’t breathe,” said Vaillancourt. Vaillancourt has been suffering from asthma[->0] since she was diagnosed at the age of 9. She is one of 18.2 million adults age 18 years and older with this illness according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Over seven million children ages 0-17 have asthma. Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system[->1] that leads to inflammation of the bronchial tubes, resulting in difficulty carrying air to the lungs. Asthma greatly affects an individual’s breathing, and can place severe restrictions on daily life. During asthma attacks, which may be triggered by weather, allergens, exercise, the individuals’ ability to breathe becomes difficult. As a young, active college student[->2], Vaillancourt’s battle with asthma plays a role in her day-to-day life, beyond just her walks to class. “I don’t think of inhalers as medicine. I bring it out everywhere; itis like a wallet, or cash,” said Vaillancourt, who suffers from mild...
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...Asthma Joshua Hernandez HCS/245 Oct 7, 2014 Margaret Latham Asthma Asthma is a serious respiratory diseases that is widespread that affects millions and millions of people through out the world. This disease affects newborns, young children, adults, baby boomers and seniors and it is rapidly affecting small children in a rapid rate. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways with recurring symptoms, with reversible airflow obstruction with common symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Asthma is thought to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors that affect people throughout the world and in the United States. Diagnoses for the individual having asthma doesn’t know they have asthma till the symptoms of wheezing and shortness of breath arises. Newborns that have asthma when they are born are because it’s a genetic cause but young children that develop asthma are usually because of the environmental issues such as pollution. Also, delivery via caesarean section is associated with an increased risk (estimated at 20–80%) of asthma—this increased risk is attributed to the lack of healthy bacterial colonization that the newborn would have acquired from passage through the birth canal. Many environmental factors have been associated with asthma’s development including allergens, air pollution, and other environmental chemicals. Low air quality from factors such as traffic pollution or high ozone levels...
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...Introduction: Asthma is a disorder that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Asthma is caused by inflammation in the airways. When an asthma attack occurs, the muscles surrounding the airways become tight and the lining of the air passages swells. This reduces the amount of air that can pass by. In sensitive people, asthma symptoms can be triggered by breathing in allergy- causing substances (called allergens or triggers). Common asthma triggers include: •Animals (pet hair or dander) •Dust •Changes in weather (most often cold weather) •Chemicals in the air or in food •Exercise •Mold •Pollen •Strong emotions (stress) •Tobacco smoke Data: Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects an estimated 16.4 million adults (aged ≥ 18 years)1 and 7.0 million children (aged< 18 years)1 in the United States (U.S.), regardless of age, sex, race, or ethnicity. Although the exact cause of asthma is unknown and it cannot be cured, it can be controlled with self-management education, appropriate medical care, and avoiding exposure to environmental triggers. The following data provide an overview of the burden of asthma in Indiana (IN) compared with the U.S. All stated comparisons indicate that the group is statistically significantly different than the reference group (e.g., adults aged 18-24 years, men, non-Hispanic whites, children aged 15-17 years, and boys). Diagrams...
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...Running Header: Asthma Paper on Asthma September 10, 2010 Abstract Chronic bronchitis is a preventable disease highly linked to smoking. Once a patient is diagnosed with chronic bronchitis through pulmonary function tests and other exams, it is not curable but there are medications that may help in alleviating symptoms. Chronic bronchitis patients are often referred to as “Blue bloater.” In chronic bronchitis, there is a marked increased in the proliferation of the goblet cells that results in excess mucous production. There is marked inflammation of bronchial mucosa due to infection or chemical inhalation. There is excessive mucus production occurring on most days for at least three consecutive months for two consecutive years. Some medications that are use in the treatment of chronic bronchitis are: adrenergic agents, anticholinergic agents, corticosteroids agents and antibiotics. Since there is no cure for chronic bronchitis at the present time, the prognosis is fair in regards to when the diagnosis is made. If detected early enough steps can be taken to prevent further damages to the lungs. Smoking cessation is a key factor in stopping the progression of the disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation including exercise training and education about the disease and the harmful effect of smoking is an essential component of chronic bronchitis therapy. Paper on Chronic Bronchitis Introduction Chronic Bronchitis belongs to a part of a larger group of diseases called...
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...Encarta encyclopedia, many Americans, besides me, have asthma and that number has increased dramatically in the last 20 years. “ More than 17 million Americans suffer from asthma, with nearly 5 million cases occurring in children under age 18. In the United States, asthma causes 5,500 deaths each year… Among all Americans, the prevalence of asthma increased more than 60 percent between 1982 and 1994.” (1) The management of asthma is a health issue for many people besides me. As a result of my research I have found that I can manage my asthma and live a full, active life by minimizing the effects of environmental factors that can trigger asthma episodes, following my physician’s instructions about medications and by sticking to an exercise program Numerous substances can trigger an asthma attack of coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Allergens constitute the largest category of triggers (Abramowicz). According to Susan Berg, “Allergens are substances that produce an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to them.” Common allergens are pollens from plants, animal dander, dust mites, mold and mildew (23). Dr. Anders said we would do a series of skin tests for allergies right away. If I am allergic to certain triggers, allergy shots will help by desensitizing me to them, making them less likely to trigger an episode (Anders). If I am allergic to certain pollens, I can reduce the chances of an asthma episode by staying indoors when those pollens are in...
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...1. Discuss the pathophysiology of asthma. The pathophysiology of Asthma includes inflammation of the airway. The way in which this works is from an irritant which can include dust, pollen, cedar, or cat hair. When a reaction occurs, the airways become inflamed and narrow. The narrowing occurs because once the inflammatory response is triggered by an irritant, histamines, immunoglobulin E antibodies, and leukotrienes are released. Because of this, mucous production occurs. Since the bronchioles are inflamed and narrow, breathing becomes difficult. Wheezing sounds can be heard due to the lack of air being able to easily move in and out of the narrowed bronchioles. 2. Discuss the educational points that should be included when implementing standard education for the asthma patient. The standard education points when taking care of an asthmatic patient would be the important of recognizing the symptoms of an asthma attack. This is important so the patient would know when to use their inhaler before the situation becomes too severe. The patient should be aware that tightness of the chest, feelings of difficulty breathing, and the sound of wheezes are all indicators of an attack and the need for an inhaler. Another education point would be what can trigger asthma attacks. The patient should be educated on how changes in elevation, weather, cigarette smoke, animals, and exertion of the body can all trigger an asthma attack. The patient should be told to always carry their inhaler...
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