Asthma
Asthma is an inflammatory lung disease, caused when there is a hyper-responsiveness of the airways when exposed to allergens. When a person experience an asthma attack the airway becomes obstructed due to inflammation and it becomes difficult for the individual to push air from their lungs. Asthma is characterized by acute and intermittent attack, where the individual will experience difficulty breathing, wheezing, decreased expiratory force, tightness in the chest, coughing without mucus production, especially early in morning or late at night, tachycardia, and increased use of expiratory muscles used during expiration (Huether, McCance, Rote, 2008, p.726). Many individual with asthma may be asymptomatic between episodes. Asthma is a familiar disorder with over twenty genes that have been identified that can possibly cause the disorder (Huether, McCance, Rote, 2008, p.726).
“Asthma is one of the most common lung disorders in the US” (Huether et al, 2008, p.726). Genes and environment play contributing factors in developing asthma. Asthma can develop at any age. Risk factors for developing asthma include exposure to allergens, air pollution, cigarette smoke, viral infections, sedentary life style, and living in environments that do not allow children to be exposed to certain infectious organisms (Huether et al, 2008, p.726). Death from asthma has declined but, there is an increased incidence of asthma in urban areas that is thought to be due to pollution (Huether et al, 2008, p.726).
When an individual with asthma is exposed to allergens, the irritant causes a chain of events that can be life threatening if not reversed (Huether et al, 2008, p.728). First mast cells are activated and release multiple inflammatory mediators to include: histamines, interleukins, prostaglandins, leukotriens, and nitric oxide (Huether et al, 2008, p.728). These cytokines have the effect of vasodilatation causing increase capillary permeability to the area. The area becomes inflamed, mucus becomes thicker, and the smooth muscle begins to spasm. The airway becomes hyper-responsive and obstructed making it difficult for the person having the attack to exhale (Huether et al, 2008, p.728). This causes the gases in the lungs to build up and decrease perfusion to the alveoli in the lungs. This response causes the individual having the attack to develop, hypoxemia and they begin to hyperventilate. The hyperventilation causes respiratory alkalosis in attempt to increase oxygen to the alveoli and reverse uneven perfusion due to inflammation. The person then begins to take in more oxygen due to hyperventilation and is unable to expel carbon dioxide and develops acidosis. Acidosis is a warning sign that death is certain if this process is not reversed (Huether et al, 2008, p.728).
A person may be without symptoms between episodes. The doctor uses the patient’s history to support his diagnosis of asthma. Certain things that support this diagnosis include: difficulty breathing during exercise, recurrent episodes of breathlessness, decreased FEV during an induced attack, a history of gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Management of asthma includes avoidance of allergens, use of anti- inflammatory medications, inhaled bronchodilators, immune therapies, the use of beta-agonist and oral corticosteroids (Huether et al, 2008, p.728). Patient education is important because, many individual underestimate the seriousness of this disorder (Huether et al, 2008, p.728).
“Asthma is one of the most common lung disorders in the US” (Huether et al, 2008, p.726). Genes and environment play contributing factors in developing asthma. Asthma can develop at any age. Risk factors for developing asthma include exposure to allergens, air pollution, cigarette smoke, viral infections, sedentary life style, and living in environments that do not allow children to be exposed to certain infectious organisms (Huether et al, 2008, p.726). Death from asthma has declined but, there is an increased incidence of asthma in urban areas that is thought to be due to pollution (Huether et al, 2008, p.726).
When an individual with asthma is exposed to allergens, the irritant causes a chain of events that can be life threatening if not reversed (Huether et al, 2008, p.728). First mast cells are activated and release multiple inflammatory mediators to include: histamines, interleukins, prostaglandins, leukotriens, and nitric oxide (Huether et al, 2008, p.728). These cytokines have the effect of vasodilatation causing increase capillary permeability to the area. The area becomes inflamed, mucus becomes thicker, and the smooth muscle begins to spasm. The airway becomes hyper-responsive and obstructed making it difficult for the person having the attack to exhale (Huether et al, 2008, p.728). This causes the gases in the lungs to build up and decrease perfusion to the alveoli in the lungs. This response causes the individual having the attack to develop, hypoxemia and they begin to hyperventilate. The hyperventilation causes respiratory alkalosis in attempt to increase oxygen to the alveoli and reverse uneven perfusion due to inflammation. The person then begins to take in more oxygen due to hyperventilation and is unable to expel carbon dioxide and develops acidosis. Acidosis is a warning sign that death is certain if this process is not reversed (Huether et al, 2008, p.728).
A person may be without symptoms between episodes. The doctor uses the patient’s history to support his diagnosis of asthma. Certain things that support this diagnosis include: difficulty breathing during exercise, recurrent episodes of breathlessness, decreased FEV during an induced attack, a history of gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Management of asthma includes avoidance of allergens, use of anti- inflammatory medications, inhaled bronchodilators, immune therapies, the use of beta-agonist and oral corticosteroids (Huether et al, 2008, p.728). Patient education is important because, many individual underestimate the seriousness of this disorder (Huether et al, 2008, p.728).
