Asthma Research Paper

There are many different people who don’t think that asthma can cause many complications. Asthma is considered a killer disease because you most definitely can die from asthma. There are about eleven Americans die from asthma each day. There more than 4,000 deaths due to asthma each year. It also is considered a contributing factor of about 7,000 deaths per year. African Americans are more likely to die more than Caucasians. African American women have the highest morality rate of all groups. It is 2.5 higher than Caucasians. As asthma is constantly growing, there is a great chance that you might come in contact with this disease. In this paper, I would discuss asthma and how it affects the respiratory system.

Asthma is consider to be a chronic disease of the respiratory system. This disease causes the passages

that enable air to pass into the lungs narrow, and unable to pass. When the lungs are narrow, it causes coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The narrowing of the passages are usually temporary. In serve asthma attacks, passages remain narrow which can lead to death. Asthma is most commonly known as bronchial asthma, which is consider to an inflammation of the airways. Bronchial is also referred to the term cardiac asthma, that occurs when fluid is build up in the lungs. Cardiac asthma is a result or complication of heart failure. There are more than seventeen million americans who suffer from asthma. Within those seventeen million people, five million of them are children under the age of 18. Nearly 5,500 deaths occur each year in the united states. Asthma can occur in all ages and all ethnic groups of people. Researches find it interesting that asthma is found greater in poor neighborhoods, in area with cold climate, and in industrialized countries. Asthma has increased tremendously between the year of 1982 and 1994. This increase between 1982 and 1994, was seen more in children. The morbidity rate increased tremendously more than 55 percent. Many scientist think that this increase was due to being expose to second hand smoke, polluted areas, and poor circulation areas. Asthma was discovered in china in 2600 BC. Babylonians stated that asthma symptoms as breathless when a man’s lungs pant with his work.
Breathing is very important dealing with asthma, because as stated asthma affects the respiratory system. In the human body, all cells requires oxygen function. Every breath that we take, air will travel to the lungs, and through several airways. After air passes through the mouth and throat, the air moves through the larynx. After the air passes through the larynx it then goes through the windpipe. The trachea is divided into two branches, they are called the left and right bronchus. These two branches are connected to the lungs. Next, the air is moves through the bronchi, where they are divided into smaller air passages. In the lungs, oxygen is diffuse within the alveoli walls, then into the blood capillaries. This how asthma affect breathing, because if something doesn't allow oxygen to reach the alveoli, the body cant receive oxygen.
Often times people don't know that asthma can be inherited or passed down to people from their parents. Asthma can also occur even if a patient doesn't have any family history of asthma in their family. Asthma is also cause by allergies, if suffer from allergies you may be more likely to have asthma. Asthma that occurs from allergies often times begin in children, but can also happen in adults. The most common allergens that cause asthma is grass, mold, pollen, and grass. These types of allergens can cause sneezing, wheezing, and a runny nose. Due to the allergens the lungs can become irritated and can most definitely cause an asthma attack. Also respiratory infections can cause asthma also. Respiratory infections can cause long term effects such as shortness of breath and wheezing. Scientist found that respiratory virus is the number cause of asthma attack. Severe asthma can cause you to stay home from school and work.
Asthma is not diagnosed without a breathing test. Americans who think that they might have asthma has to go to their health care provider. Their healthcare provider can order a breathing test, so that asthma can be diagnosed. The breathing test that is used to diagnosed asthma is called a pulmonary function test. The healthcare provider can also order blood test for allergies, or for immune system complications. Sometimes asthma gets worst instead of better, if this is the case the healthcare provider might order more test. Some people benefit more from asthma specialist because they have more knowledge about the disease. An asthma specialist will able to run more test, and find a specific cause the disease.
People who suffer from asthma, often times catch asthma attacks.

An asthma attack occurs when the bronchioles become swollen or inflamed. When the bronchioles are inflamed the space that air can travel through is reduced. When this process happens is makes it harder for the person to move air in and out of the lungs. An asthma attack normally begins with chest pressure and the person develops a dry cough. Asthma attacks can build up intensity and when that happens, the person begins to wheeze. It also becomes extremely difficult to breath, and mucus begins to arise. During an asthma attack due to the air-ways being inflamed it prevents the oxygen-rich blood from going to the alveoli. Since the blood can’t make it to the alveoli, they body burns oxygen faster, and the body is in demand for more. Asthma attacks varies from person to person. Some people have them everyday vs some people who can go months without having one. There are several things that can trigger an asthma attack. The air-ways become inflamed when a person comes in contact with irritants, such as cigarette smoke. Therefore asthmatics must be fully aware of what they come in contact

with.
Even though there isn't a cure for asthma, there are treatments available for people who are dealing with asthma. There are medications they help control asthma attacks and allowing them to end as soon as they start. They can treat asthma two different ways orally or an inhaler. The inhaler is called a metered-dose inhaler, where you inhale the medications. There also is a pump that you can use, which the medication goes straight into the airway. Doctors can prescribe two types of medications, either bronchodilators or anti-inflammatory. Bronchodilators will reduce bronchospasm, and anti-inflammatory reduces airway inflammations. The most used medication to control asthma attack is bronchodilators. Bronchodilators work on beta-receptors that are connected to muscle bands which circles the airways. When drug in the bronchodilator connects with the beta-receptors, it allows the airway to dilate. Theophylline is one type of bronchodilator that works by relaxing the airways that surrounds muscles. Anti-inflammatory works by relax the muscles that tighten up during bronchospasm. Doctor may prescribe corticosteroids with reduces symptoms by suppressing the immune system. Another treatment option for asthma that caused by allergens is called immunotherapy. Immunotherapy alters the persons allergic response by contact with small amounts of allergens. During immunotherapy the patient is administer with allergens, which trains the body to behave to the allergen differently. Immunotherapy is very effective in minimizing allergic reactions to dust, pollen, and fungi.
In closing asthma is describe as a chronic respiratory illness, that cause difficulty breathing. It cause the airways to swell and produces large amounts of mucus. Doctors use blood tests and chest X-rays to diagnose asthma. Asthma can’t be cure but there are several treatments that can help control symptoms. Chronic asthma conditions can affect physical, psychological. Make sure you get frequent check up if you are experiencing signs of asthma.