Essay On Asthma

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Asthma: Improvement management
Martine Calice
Ms. Sierra Pilar
NUR 2235
May 12, 2014

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system. It causes swelling and narrowing of the air tubes inside the lungs. When this happens there can be coughing, a whistling sound when you breathe (wheezing), chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. The narrowing comes from swelling and muscles spasms of the air tubes. It is a common illness of childhood. Knowing more about the illness can help patient handle it better. It cannot be cured, but medicine can help control it.
Asthma often triggered by allergies, viral lung infections, or irritants in the air. Allergic reactions can cause wheezing immediately when exposed to allergens or many hours later. Common triggers for asthma include: Exercise, infection, usually viral pollution, cigarettes smoke, paint fumes.
“ An estimated 5.2 million people in the UK have asthma, making its prevalence one of the highest of any country in the world; on average asthma affects people in one of five UK households and is responsible for one hospital admission every 7.5 minutes (Asthma UK 2011)”. Clancy (p. 34). Prevelence of asthma in older adults aged 65 or older is estimated to be 6-10% in the developed world.

Children living in urban areas and from low-income families, older adults and obesity patients are considered to be at risks population. “ Older people may have developed asthma in childhood, adolescence or adulthood. The risk factors for developing asthma in adulthood include genetic susceptibility, hormonal changes in some women, exposure to indoor and outdoor pollutants, occupational exposures, excess body weight, rhinitis, medications such as beta blockers, and viral and bacterial infection...

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...their asthma more effectively attain physical and mental wellbeing, and lead to fewer hospitalization and fatal episode in this group. “ Self management has been defined as the successful outcome of the person and all appropriate individuals and services working together to support them to deal with the very real implications of living the rest of their life with one or more long-term condition”. (p .56)

REFERENCES

Carnegie, E., & Jones, A. (2013). Improving the management of asthma in older adults. Nursing Standard, 28 (13), 50-58.
Clancy, J., & Blake, D. (2013). Pathophysiology and pharmacological management of asthma from nature-nurture perspective. Primary Health Care, 23 (7), 34-41
Juel, C., & Ulrick, C (2013). Obesity and Asthma: Impact on Severity, Asthma Control, and Response to Therapy. Respiratory Care, 58(5), 867-873.

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