Category: Asthma

Asthma is a disorder in which the body airways narrow, swell, and generate excessive mucus. It causes coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath and makes breathing difficult. The presence of indoor allergens aggravates this illness. However, there is evidence that not all allergen exposure has the same impact on children. Cockroach exposure, for instance, causes severe asthma symptoms and is a leading cause of asthma morbidity (Rabito et al., 2017). Although the mechanism by which cockroach allergen causes morbidity is unknown, it has been demonstrated to promote proliferative T-cell responses and to be extremely strong. Generating an IgE response at much lower levels than dust, mite, and cat allergen. Cockroaches are a major asthma trigger, especially for children with asthma who live in urban areas. Therefore, proper attention and medication for asthmatic patients is key to its control. In this regard, I purpose to discuss the mechanism of corticosteroid in asthma and how it differs from β2-agonist inhalants. As well as the causes of fatigue and physiological events during an asthma attack, and how the body compensates for an increase in CO2, with a focus on the effects of hypercapnia on the central nervous system.

The Mechanism of Action of Corticosteroid in an Asthma Attack

Corticosteroids are a vital and life-saving medication when anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive effects are required. They have a wide range of effects on the inflammatory pathway, which increases their usefulness. The steroid molecule diffuses across cell membranes and attaches to glucocorticoid receptors, causing the receptor to undergo a conformational change (Busse, 2019). The receptor-glucocorticoid complex can enter the cell nucleus and dimerize before binding to glucocorticoid response elements. Trans-repression and transactivation are terms used to describe the effects of glucocorticoid response elements on genes that suppress or promote transcription, resulting in ribonucleic acid and protein production. Finally, these drugs block transcription factors that control the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in eosinophils, macrophages, mast cells, lymphocytes, and dendritic cells.

Inhibition of phospholipase A2 is another major impact of corticosteroids. According to Busse (2019), phospholipase A2 is responsible for the generation of various inflammatory mediators. Therefore, the corticosteroid inhaler is a long-acting anti-inflammatory medicine, which reduces the formation of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and antihistamines. These messengers are important in the progression of asthma attacks. They work to diminish inflammation in two important areas: the site of inflammation and the site where the immune response is initiated (Busse, 2019). For instance, they limit the release of secretagogue from macrophages, hence lowering mucus secretion.

Variance in the Action of Corticosteroids From Β2-Agonist Inhalants

Corticosteroid inhalants have a distinct mode of action than β2-agonist inhalants. The corticosteroid inhaler is a long-acting anti-inflammatory medicine that helps avoid asthma attacks and lessens the intensity of those that do occur (Park et al., 2022). It acts by lowering inflammatory mediators such as leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and histamine production. Corticosteroids function by diminishing the body’s generation of inflammatory mediators, unlike β2-agonist inhalants, which are short-acting medicines that ease symptoms by boosting smooth muscle tone in the bronchial tree, hence decreasing airway resistance (Park et al., 2022). These mediators increase mucus secretion, constrict blood arteries throughout the body, cause vascular smooth muscle contraction, and activate airway inflammation and mucus secretion, all of which contribute to asthma attacks.

Additionally, Corticosteroids are used to treat asthma and other ailments. They function by lowering inflammation and airway hyper responsiveness, which forms two important elements that contribute to asthma attacks. They also inhibit the release of substances called leukotrienes in the body, which leads to inflammation (Park et al., 2022). The β2-agonist, on the other hand, like albuterol, is used to open up airways, by attaching to alpha-2 receptors on smooth muscle cells. This helps manage acute asthma attacks or possibly prevent them from happening in the first place. Therefore, in this case, I would prescribe a corticosteroid, to help curb Emmanuel’s condition.

The Causes of Fatigue and Physiological Events During an Asthma Attack

During a prolonged attack of severe asthma, the constriction of airways generates ventilation-perfusion imbalance, lung hyperinflation, and increased labor of breathing, all of which lead to ventilatory muscle exhaustion. Asthma attacks also cause the airways to enlarge and the muscles that surround them to tighten (Van Herck et al., 2018). It is much more difficult to breathe as a result of this, and it can also generate anxiety, as depicted in Emmanuel’s behavior. This is stressful for both the body and the mind, resulting in exhaustion once the asthma episode has ended.

During asthma attacks, there are various physiological events that occur. These events include the tightening of muscles surrounding the air pathways, known as bronchoconstriction, which reduces the amount of air entering the lungs. The second event involves the excessive production of mucus which clogs the air paths. The final event is the Inflammation of the air passages that occur as a result of the aberrant immunological response.

Development of Hypercapnia

Hypercapnia is a condition that develops when a person’s blood contains much more CO2. It is usually caused by hypoventilation or a lack of ability to breathe effectively and receive oxygen into the lungs. When the body does not obtain enough oxygen or cannot get rid of CO2, it may be necessary to gasp or breathe a large amount of air to bring the amounts of oxygen and CO2 back into balance. Symptoms of hypercapnia might be mild or severe. Mild symptoms such as headaches, shortness of breath, and unusual tiredness or exhaustion can be promptly addressed by the body in order to improve breathing and regulate CO2 levels.

How the Body Compensates for an Increase in CO2

To compensate for the excess carbon dioxide, the body employs a variety of methods. For instance, in the situations of an increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, above the normal. Both the peripheral and chemoreceptors respond to the increased H+ ion and carbon dioxide concentration in the blood (Collins et al., 2021). They trigger the respiratory centers in the medulla to proliferate the respiratory capacity to foster the exchange of gasses.

They stimulate the respiratory centers to intensify the respiration work to reach the state of equilibrium, thereby increasing the respiratory efforts. The chemoreceptors transmit signals to the heart muscle to steer up the cardiac output and force of contraction to boost blood pressure. An impetus for vasoconstriction is then sent to escalate blood pressure thereby improving the exchange of gasses and restoration of homeostasis. Additionally, the body can compensate for an increase in Carbon dioxide by hyperventilation which involves increasing breathing to oust more carbon dioxide.

The Effects of Hypercapnia on the Central Nervous System

The buildup of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream causes hypercapnia. This triggers a proportional increase in the brain tissue [H+]. In pulmonary insufficiency, the combination of hypoxia and hypercapnia causes cerebral vasodilation and increased cerebral blood flow, which may lead to increased intracranial pressure and reduction of the seizure threshold (Shigemura et al., 2020). Moreover, acute hypercapnia raises sympathetic nervous system discharge. As a result, plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine levels rise, increasing myocardial contractility and cardiac output but simultaneously increasing the risk of cardiac arrhythmias. Thus posing risks and traumatic damage to the central nervous system.

Cockroach and dust exposure in towns have been a major cause of asthma symptoms among children. Furthermore, in severe cases, these exposures often cause morbidity. Corticosteroid inhalant is a multi-purpose and long-acting anti-inflammatory medicine that helps avoid asthma attacks and lessens its intensity. Its mechanism in controlling and managing asthma has a greater impact than the β2-agonist inhalants. As a result, in cases of cockroach and dust exposure, I recommend patients to use corticosteroids to efficiently and effectively manage their situations.

References

Busse, W. W. (2019). Biological treatments for severe asthma: a major advance in asthma care. Allergology International, 68(2), 158-166.

Collins, S. É., Phillips, D. B., Brotto, A. R., Rampuri, Z. H., & Stickland, M. K. (2021). Ventilatory efficiency in athletes, asthma and obesity. European Respiratory Review, 30(161).

Park, H. J., Huh, J. Y., Lee, J. S., Lee, J. S., Oh, Y. M., & Lee, S. W. (2022). Comparative efficacy of inhalers in mild-to-moderate asthma: systematic review and network meta-analysis. Scientific reports, 12(1), 1-9.

Rabito, F., John, C. C., He, H., Werthmann, D., & Schal, C. (2017). A single intervention for cockroach control reduces cockroach exposure and asthma morbidity in children. Allergy Clin Immunol, 140(2), 564-570.

Shigemura, M., Homma, T., & Sznajder, J. I. (2020). Hypercapnia: an aggravating factor in asthma. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(10), 3207.

Van Herck, M., Spruit, M. A., Burtin, C., Djamin, R., Antons, J., Goërtz, Y. M., & Van’t Hul, A. J. (2018). Fatigue is highly prevalent in patients with asthma and contributes to the burden of disease. Journal of clinical medicine, 7(12), 471.

In the present environment of the 21^st century, technological progress is on an increase. Thus, it permeates most spheres of human activity, introducing advanced solutions to various issues. With the use of technology and digitalization, communication also becomes easier. Computers and the Internet connection have become available to a considerable portion of the population, which equally serves as a facilitator of the new solution implementation. These ideas are actively utilized within the healthcare system, as well. Enhanced remote communication and digital support to treatment have instigated the development of telehealth with the use of mobile systems.

These concepts are indispensable for an extended reach of the medical services, as they allow practitioners to encompass their communities to a higher degree. Furthermore, they optimize the efficiency of the system, as nurses and doctors can provide more services with a decreased stress load. Modern technology can become a particularly strong contributor to the health of the younger generations, namely in the field of pediatrics. In fact, pediatric asthma patients exhibit a strong need for advanced treatment options on all levels. This paper focuses on the potential of a spacer inhaler supported by the advanced technological solutions for pediatric asthma patients.

The target demographics in question include adolescents aged between 11 and 17. This category does not imply any division by gender or ethnicity, as its concepts are applied universally within the age group. From the socioeconomic perspective, the range is equally broad, comprising all households with a sufficient income to provide adolescents with modern gadgets, namely smartphones. According to Hale and Viner (2018), adolescence is a crucial period in the life of a person, which possesses multiple determinants of health. At this stage, pediatric patients form their understanding of health, acquiring the key practices of promoting and preserving it.

However, the knowledge and interventions are to be delivered in a convenient, age-appropriate form. Following their inner desire to be in line with their peers, teenagers often rebel against certain practice that diverge from this paradigm (Edelman & Kudzma, 2018). Asthma is one of the issues threatening the health of an adolescent, being diagnosed in 8.6% of this population in the United States (Averell et al., 2021). Thus, this condition requires effective, age-specific interventions on a provider level.

In order to illustrate the challenges and opportunities emerging in this situation, a case study is proposed. A thirteen-year-old Caucasian teenager named Dennis has been diagnosed with asthma, following several instances of suffocation. The family is neither rich nor in need, as the household’s income corresponds to the average figures in the United States. Dennis attends a public school and has no problems with socialization. Following the onset of asthma, he had several appointments with the doctor at a local clinic who prescribed him the use of a traditional inhaler. However, the condition persisted, as the parents noticed that Dennis does not use his inhaler as prescribed.

The adolescent explained that he struggled to understand the functioning of his inhaler. During a follow-up visit to the medical institution, Dennis was offer to use a spacer inhaler. However, the patient still struggled to use it properly, and his condition did not improve. The staff suggested that the reasons lied in the psychological dimension rather than physical. Indeed, Dennis soon explained that having an inhaler in public made him look “not cool” in the eyes of his peers.

The case of Dennis remains common across the United States, as the perceived peer pressure often causes unhealthy behavior among adolescents. This phenomenon instils certain biases that prompt patients with asthma to stigmatize themselves and prefer social approval over personal health. In order to address this situation, a comprehensive provider-level plan is required. In fact, the use of modern technology may become an integral part of the solution to the problem. More specifically, pediatric asthma patient will benefit from a designated mobile application, serving to support them. The application should be available on all platforms and operation systems to enhance its reach.

This program is to be recommended and delivered to all adolescent patients who are diagnosed with asthma. The users can be assigned an individual patient number to track their progress and ensure electronic feedback. First of all, the application should include convenient video and text instructions on the use of their spacer inhalers. Second, a personal tracker of the progress will remind patients to take their asthma medication on time. If it is skipped, parents and nurses will receive an alert, allowing for early prevention. Next, the application will enable remote communication with the medical team, incorporating the convenient format of telemedicine into the treatment.

Finally, an extensive database can be included to spread the information that would normalize asthma in the minds of the patients with this condition. In fact, the application may become a platform for a social network-like entity, uniting adolescents with asthma throughout the United States. By sharing their personal stories and providing support to one another, these people will be prompted to concentrate on their personal health and see that their condition is by no means a reason for stigma.

References

Averell, C. M. Laliberte, F., Germain, G., Slade, D. J., Suh, M. S., & Spahn, J. (2021). Disease burden and treatment adherence among children and adolescent patients with asthma. Journal of Asthma. Web.

Edelman, C. L., & Kudzma, E. C. (2018). Health Promotion throughout the Life Span (9^th ed.). Elsevier.

Hale, D. R., & Viner, R. M. (2017). How adolescent health influences education and employment: Investigating longitudinal associations and mechanisms. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 72(6). Web.

There is a significant issue with the rates of emergency department visits among children with asthma that calls for the creation of an intervention plan. According to Dannefer et al. (2019), the rates of morbidity and mortality are disproportionately high in “the South Bronx, East and Central Harlem, and North and Central Brooklyn” (p. 163). It implies the need to study what factors lead to this disparity and how new healthcare initiatives can alleviate it. The population of Central Harlem will be the target of this intervention that aims to decrease the rate of children’s asthma-related ED visits. The primary causes for this health problem will be reviewed to identify the actions necessary for its resolution. This essay overviews the factors contributing to this health issue and the intervention plan that aims to alleviate it among the target population.

The objective of this intervention is to reduce child asthma emergency department visits in Central Harlem. Asthma remains one of the critical issues in underrepresented communities with low income, such as the population of the chosen area, with rates of occurrence being as high as 20-30% (Louisias & Phipatanakul, 2017). To alleviate this disparity, the intervention plan will consist of increased attention to this health issue and promotion of an efficient and sustainable treatment method.

The choice of intervention methods is modeled after contemporary research on reducing the effects of asthma in children. The studies show that an asthma medication regimen that consists of proper use of a long-term controller has five times lower rates of asthma ED visits (Baltrus et al., 2016). Compliance with proposed treatment that uses long-term controller medication regimens is one of the crucial sources of alleviation of this health issue (Baltrus et al., 2016). Therefore, the intervention plan will focus on the promotion of this regimen among the target population. This promotion will take place over a three months period, during which the public health campaign will connect healthcare providers with the target population.

To achieve the desired effect, healthcare organizations that operate in this area, both public and private, will be included in the public health initiative that focuses on family education. Louisias and Phipatanakul (2017) state that the primary sources of improvement are “dealing with reducing/eliminating allergen or pollutant exposure, educational and empowerment support for patients, and decision support tools and resources for providers” (p. 68). A significant portion of the intervention’s desired effect will be achieved by teaching parents and their children how to recognize and eliminate the substances that can trigger asthma. Healthcare providers in the area will help with the distribution of this information via short educational courses, pamphlets, and advertisements.

The particular population of Central Harlem presents a critical issue for several reasons that must be acknowledged in the intervention. There is a limitation on the scope of the intervention. The barriers to access are especially prominent in the population who only have Medicaid insurance in contrast to those patients who have private insurance plans (Baltrus et al., 2016). The resources of the health care system are unequally distributed among these populations, leading to a decreased, to the point of unsatisfactory, quality of primary care.

The recent studies have revealed that the low-income household status alone is not linked directly to the increased risk of asthma in children, and the causes are multifactorial (Louisias & Phipatanakul, 2017). They combine poor housing materials that can work as allergens or air pollutants, race/ethnicity, behavioral factors, such as smoking and obesity, mixed with a low socioeconomic status of a household (Louisias & Phipatanakul, 2017). Therefore, not all residents of the target area are in the scope of the intervention.

The primary stakeholders for this implementation plan must be outlined to define their roles and the value of this intervention. The primary stakeholders are the children with asthma and their families in Central Harlem. Healthcare centers that operate in that area are the second stakeholders due to the proposed public health initiative. The healthcare system can benefit greatly from an efficient implementation of this intervention, decreasing the number of ED visits. Insurance companies can be involved in this process to incentivize the usage of long-term asthma controllers, making them a potential stakeholder in this initiative.

Table 1. The Intervention plan SWOT analysis.

Aside from the goal recognition and the assessment of the scope of the plan, an implementation plan can benefit significantly from the analysis of external and internal factors. It can reveal several vital prospects that need to be addressed by the intervention, as well as prepare the layout of its future expansions. This SWOT analysis, for example, shows a definite need to focus on the improvement of the basis created by other studies that have already developed their approaches to the target population. However, it also reveals that none of the existing programs have been able to eliminate the adverse impact of social determinants of health.

According to Kwok et al. (2018), the most prominent barriers to the implementation of an efficient intervention program are the lacking “access to PCPs, insurance status, transportation availability, and telephone access” (p. 637). Therefore, the additional focus must be placed on people who are disproportionately affected by the root causes of this health issue.

Table 2. The responsibility chart for the proposed intervention.

In conclusion, this intervention plan creates an opportunity for healthcare providers to cooperate with the target population in an attempt to increase compliance rates with the long-term controller usage regimen. The effectiveness of such an initiative has been proven in the past by programs that focused on family education among underrepresented communities. Baltrus et al. (2016) state that the “Harlem Children’s Zone initiative has reduced asthma ED visits among predominantly Black children in low-income neighborhoods by 77%” (p. 59). The expected outcome of this intervention is the decreased rate of emergency department visits due to an increased usage of long-term controller medications. To control the intervention results, it is necessary to compare the number of child asthma-related ED visits before and after the education courses.

References

Baltrus, P., Xu, J., Immergluck, L., Gaglioti, A., Adesokan, A., & Rust, G. (2016). Individual and County level predictors of asthma related emergency department visits among children on Medicaid: A multilevel approach. Journal of Asthma, 54(1), 53-61. Web.

Dannefer, R., Wong, B. C., John, P., Gutierrez, J., Brown-Dudley, L., Freeman, K., Roberts, C., Martins, E., Napier, E., Noyes, P., Seoh, H., Bedell, J., Toner, C., Easterling, T., Lopez, J., Manyindo, N., & Maybank, K. A. (2019). The neighborhood as a unit of change for health: Early findings from the East Harlem neighborhood health action center. Journal of Community Health, 45(1), 161-169. Web.

Kwok, M. Y., Pusic, M. V., Cabrera, K. I., York, D. V., Lee, J., & Evans, D. (2018). Asthma-related educational needs of families with children with asthma in an urban pediatric emergency department. Pediatric Emergency Care, 34(9), 636-640. Web.

Louisias, M., & Phipatanakul, W. (2017). Managing asthma in low-income, underrepresented minority, and other disadvantaged pediatric populations: Closing the gap. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 17(10). Web.

Introduction

The experiences of narrowing of airways, swelling, and blockage by extra mucus production refer to asthma. As a result, breathing difficulties initiate coughing, a whistling sound when a person takes breaths out. Asthma is categorized based on the symptoms’ causes and harshness. Therefore, healthcare providers classify them as intermittent asthma, a situation whereby a person can feel normal during asthma flashes (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). Persistent asthma is another form of asthma that means an individual has symptoms more often, which can be minor, moderate, or severe (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp. 1-5). Henceforth, healthcare givers classify asthma based on symptoms occurrences in an individual by considering the level of its severity.

The following are signs and symptoms of a patient who has asthma. Asthma is characterized by bronchial tube inflammation with extra mucus production causing blockage of airways (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). And asthmatic patients can experience symptoms when the airways are squeezed, inflamed, and filled with mucus. The usual symptoms of a person who has asthma include; coughing mostly at night, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest pain. Although not all individuals with asthma have the same symptoms, someone might lack all of the above symptoms or have, unlike symptoms at different times (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp. 1-5). Moreover, it is significant to identify and treat mild asthma symptoms to prevent biting incidents and control the disease.

The prevalence of asthma in Europe and Ireland. In European countries, nearly 25 million people below the age of 45 are diagnosed with asthma. And the prevalence of asthma in the European Union is 9.4% in children and 8.3% in adults. In UK and Ireland experience some of the greatest rates of asthma in the globe (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). In most cases, an adult with a disease develops it from childhood. On the other hand, it can be developed in the elderly, but due to its similar features, it might be hard to differentiate asthma from COPD in older individuals. An individual with asthma may be managed successfully in primary care, while others may require specialist supervision.

Treatment method for a person suffering from an asthma condition. Those techniques are bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory medicines, and biologic therapies for asthma. Bronchodilators are medicines that relax the muscles around the airways allowing air movement (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). They make it easy for mucus to pass via the airways. Moreover, these medications relieve the symptoms and are used for intermitted and chronic asthma. On the other hand, anti-inflammatory medicines minimize the swelling and production of mucus in the airways. Lastly, biological therapies for asthma are used for advanced asthma when symptoms persevere appropriate inhaler therapy.

Common triggers of asthma in an individual. Asthma causes may vary from one individual to another while; some individuals respond to just a few, with others responding to too many triggers (Viswam and Mansur, 2022, pp.466). The most usual asthma triggers include; allergies such as dust mites, pollen, molds, rodents, and pet dander; irritants in the air in the form of cigarette smoke, air pollution, wood fire chemicals, and strong fumes or vapors. Other health conditions include allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, obesity, food allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, exercise, weather, and medicine. Since the symptom does not always happen immediately after exposure, it is vital to preserving track of the triggers that stimulate asthma.

The Rationale

Health promotion refers to raising an individual, organization, crowd, and community to advance health knowledge, behavior, and skills. In contrast, health education combines any learning experiences intended to simplify voluntary activities favorable to health. Health education and promotion aim to positively encourage the healthy behavior of people and communities and their working and living conditions (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp. 1-5). Moreover, health promotion merits include promoting the health status of families, communities, and people; encouraging the worth of life for all individuals; minimizing early deaths; reduces the cost of living via preventative measures. In asthma, they provide the necessary knowledge to individuals suffering from the disease, thus inhibiting asthma attacks.

Health education is offered in various institutions such as schools, colleges, companies, and health care settings. Educators in that institution aim to educate patients on medical procedures, therapeutic regimens, operations, and innovative actions to encourage the use of facilities by great-risk patients; offer counseling to employees on various techniques to prevent attacks from respiratory diseases. Moreover, they emphasize the importance of health and safety; they promote self-care; they develop events to advance patient participation in the clinical process (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). Furthermore, health educators enlighten people to facilitate, protect, maintain health and minimize hazardous behaviors.

The Key Health Education and Promotion Messages in the Brochure

Dust mite allergy is an allergic response to tiny bugs usually found in dust. The common signs and symptoms of dust mite include sneezing, runny nose, cough, facial pain, and hay fever. If the dust mite triggers asthma, symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing are experienced (Harville, 2020, pp. 366). It is vital to reduce or prevent the number of dust mites in a home by providing a conducive environment by installing carpets, bedding, and upholstered furniture to absorb dust. Dust mite might be mild, meaning occasional sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. The condition can be chronic in case of severity, leading to congestion, facial pressure, persistent sneezing, and severe asthma attack. In some cases, signs and symptoms of dust mite, such as sneezing and runny nose, are related to the common cold. Although, if the symptoms are severe, such as wheezing, difficult breathing, and nasal congestion, they need medical support.

Physical exercise triggers asthma by narrowing the airways in the lungs induced by vigorous exercise. As a result, a person may start experiencing shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing during or after the exercise. People with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction might carry on exercise and stay energetic by treating the signs and symptoms with asthma medication and observing preventative measures (Harville, 2020, pp. 366). If an individual has exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and experiences symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and no progress even after using a prescription inhaler for an asthma attack should see a doctor immediately.

Animals with fur, for example, cats, rabbit, and dogs shed dead skin cells called dander, triggering an allergy. Pet dander and other pet allergens can stay in the air longer than other allergens. They are microscopic and jagged in shape, enabling them to become airborne diseases (Harville, 2020, pp. 366). The associated symptoms include sneezing, watery eyes, shortness of breath, and a runny nose. To manage pet allergy, minimize exposure, and avoid contact with pets. Also, brush the pet in a closed area, far away from a person prone to asthma. In case the symptom persists, visit the health care provider about medication.

Molds are common types of fungus, and they are microscopic organisms. Since molds are microscopic, they can easily float in the air and inhale, triggering respiratory problems. When a person allergic to mold inhales the mold, it may cause asthma. The associated symptoms of mold allergy include sneezing, runny nose, scaling skin, itching, and congestion (Harville, 2020, pp.366). Some patients may develop a severe illness called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis but rarely. The best way to prevent mold spores is by limiting outdoor activities when mold is high, particularly in summer and fall (Harville, 2020, pp.366). Always wear a mask when digging nearby crops, collecting leaves, cutting grass, or distributing plant materials. To reduce indoor mold spores, use air conditioning fitted with certified asthma and allergy filters to assist in trapping mold spores in the entire home. Moreover, maintain proper ventilation by installing an exhaust fan in the home and keeping the bathrooms clean.

Cigarette smoke is a powerful cause of asthma symptoms and irritates the lining of the airways. When a person inhales cigarette smoke, irritating elements settle in the wet airway lining and trigger asthma incidences. More frequently lungs of individuals who smoke and have asthma face poor asthma control and continually have asthma symptoms (Harville, 2020, pp. 367). Cigarette smoke destroys cilia; a tiny airway inhibition it from functioning. Tobacco smoke also triggers abnormal extra mucus production by lung inactivating cilia. Therefore, it can be prevented by quitting smoking, advising families on the dangers of smoking, and encouraging smokers to quit and avoid smoking areas.

Benefits for Patient Care

Patient care can be defined as the prevention, management, and treatment of disease and preservation of mental and physical well-being via services given by the caregiver. Patient care benefits are greater patient engagement and fulfillment rates, both parties’ objectives are achieved, and pleasing outcomes. In many hospitals that exercise and practice patient care, better health outcomes are witnessed (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). In addition, the report of low asthma visit rate, quick recovery, reduced utilization of healthcare resources, and increased patient, family, and healthcare satisfaction. Therefore, patients will be enabled with more knowledge and can recognize asthma attacks quickly and prevent severe asthma attacks, prevent attacks more easily and avoid asthma triggers and improve their quality of life significantly.

The Value of Including a Health Education and Promotion Model to Guide Practice

Many models and theories sustain health education, disease prevention, and health promotion. They assist greatly in comprehending and explaining health behavior and guide treatment selection, development, and implantation. Theoretical methods are used to investigate answers to the questions “why,” “what,” and “how” health issues should be dealt with. By looking for answers to these problems, they describe the nature of targeted health behaviors (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp. 1-5). Theory guides the search for why individuals participate in or abstain from certain health behaviors. Moreover, it aids planners in defining what is required before creating public health agendas and proposing ways to develop policies that grasp target audiences and positively influence them.

Additionally, theory equips planners with the knowledge and skills needed to go beyond perception to design and evaluate health behavior and health promotion interventions established on developmental understanding. They provide a road map for analyzing problems, developing suitable interventions, and assessing their success (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). They define the dynamic powers of health conduct, such as alteration of processes and the influences of the numerous features that impact health actions, for instance, social and physical surroundings. Besides, they greatly assist planners in regulating the appropriate target audiences and evaluation outcomes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lung and is characterized by shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. The common asthma triggers are tobacco smoke, dust mites, air pollution, pests such as cockroaches, pets, mold, physical exercise, and some medicine. Therefore, health education and promotion play a critical role in empowering patients with adequate knowledge on how to identify asthma attacks quickly and how to prevent asthma attacks and severe asthma attacks before worsening. Furthermore, individuals are enlightened on avoiding common asthma triggers and improving their quality of life.

Reference List

Abuzakouk, M., Jacob, S. and Ghorab, O. (2020) ‘Are the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Guidelines Being Correctly Used to Diagnose Severe Asthma in the UAE?’, Cureus, pp. 1–5. doi:10.7759/cureus.12278.

Harville, T. (2020) ‘Diagnosing a patient “who did not fit the textbook” for the disease signs and symptoms’, Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 125, pp. 367–368. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2020.08.013.

Viswam, D. and Mansur, A.H. (2022) ‘Mode of onset and triggers of severe asthma: The severe asthma clinic perspective’, Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunolog, 128(4), pp. 466–467. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2022.01.006.

Case Description

Asthma is a complex and challenging condition that affects the lives of numerous people, reducing the quality of their lives significantly unless addressed properly. According to Boulet et al. (2019), asthma is a “heterogeneous disease, usually characterised by chronic airway inflammation” (p. 5). Furthermore, according to the authors, asthma is associated with the symptoms such as “wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough that vary over time and in intensity, together with variable expiratory airflow limitation” (Boulet et al., 2019, p. 5). According to the World Health Organization (2020), in 2019, asthma affected a total of 262 million people worldwide, causing the death of 445,000 people globally.

The patient under analysis is an eight-year-old African American boy, who has been complaining about fatigue for a substantial amount of time, according to his mother. However, the specified issue has not been viewed as serious up until the past week, when he experienced sudden fatigue and difficulty breathing, after which he briefly fainted. The further spirometry test carried out by health experts who arrived immediately indicated that the patient had asthma. By combining the use of corticosteroids and exercises into the treatment plan, as well as educating the patient and his parents about the prevention and management of asthma attacks, a healthcare practitioner will be able to improve the patient’s condition.

Intervention Justification

As a health professional, one must focus on patient education and management of immediate threats first, thus, paying the roles of an administrator and an educator. The proposed choice of measures can be justified by the need to address both short-and long-term goals of improving the patient’s lifestyle (Saxby et al., 2019). Currently, the patient and his parents have a rather generic concept of asthma and the means of managing it. Although it might seem sufficient for identifying a health emergency and addressing it properly, it, in fact, is not enough to ensure long-term improvements (Culmer et al., 2020). Specifically, the patient and especially his parents must be provided with the information concerning the key threats to his health and the means of removing or avoiding them (Agusala et al., 2018). The specified intervention targets tall components of ICF, namely, health condition (asthma management), body functions (allergic reactions), activities (physical exercises), participation (patient education), environmental factors (presence of allergens), and personal factors (the patient’s age) (Van Leeuwen et al., 2020). Thus, it must be deemed as a reasonable treatment for the specified patient.

Admittedly, there are certain limitations to discuss. Specifically, the use of video instructions may be challenging for a young patient due to the lack of an immediate contact with the healthcare expert (Park et al., 2018). However, the problem can be mitigated by involving the patient’s parents into the process to assist him (Strömberg Celind et al., 2019). Furthermore, the application of the teach-back method is likely to work particularly will with the boy since it will allow increasing the extent of understanding in the patient (Yen et al., 2019) Therefore, the inclusion of a thorough course of patient education is entirely justified in the case under analysis.

Finally, the use of corticosteroids as the means of managing the issue of asthma directly and controlling the patient’s breathing should be seen as vital. Serving as anti-inflammatory medicine, corticosteroids reinforce the function of dermal cells responsible for the management of the respiratory process (Ramadan et al., 2019). As a result, controlled breathing and the resulting alleviation of the effect of factors causing an asthma attack in a patient, such as dry air or pollen, will be achieved. Consequently, the patient will remain in control of the situation, addressing the breathing issue.

The activity to be used for improving the patient’s well-being will consist of several lessons and exercises provided with the help of video examples and by communicating with a nurse, both directly and digitally. The proposed combination will provide the patient with direct guidelines concerning the ways of identifying, managing, and controlling asthma (Von Schantz et al., 2018). Moreover, opportunities for minimization f asthma symptoms in the patient will be possible.

Another Health Professional

In addition to the Advanced Practice Nurse, one must also acknowledge the importance of the role of a therapist in the specified context. Namely, the nurse educator will play the role of a leader in the specified context, guiding the patient and his parents (Ramsey et al., 2020). Specifically, while an APN will play mostly the administrative role, namely, the planning and supervision of the treatment implementation process, a nurse educator will provide the crucial information and guidance to the patient and his parents (Jackson et al., 2018). For instance, as a part of an interprofessional team, a nurse educator will develop a series of video instructions that not only the specified patient but also other children and adolescents with asthma in the target community can use (Ramsey et al., 2020). Additionally, a nurse educator will communicate with the parents to guide them to assist their child in the best way possible.

The specified role will allow targeting several specific components of the ICF. Particularly, the specified expert will play not only the educational role, but also that one of introducing core activities into the treatment process. For example, using online counseling sessions for the patient and his parents will represent an activity that will increase the participation of the specified stakeholders and improve the boy’s health condition. Thus, three components of the ICF model, namely, “Activity,” “Participation,” and “Health Condition,” will be addressed with the help of the proposed intervention. Namely, the activity in question will imply the introduction of essential information and instructions to the family. In turn, the participation process will be launched by making the process interactive and encouraging nurse-patient and nurse-parent communication. Finally, the “Health Condition” component will be addressed by creating premises for an improvement in the boy’s health (Jackson et al., 2018). Thus, the introduction of a nurse educator as a separate expert into the specified framework is justified.

Professionalism Characteristics

In order to address the case at hand and ensure that the boy is provided with the required resources, including medication, therapy, and instructions, a healthcare expert is required to have several specific professional characteristics. The first and the most important quality to expect in a healthcare professional in the specified setting is high level of commitment. It is crucial for a healthcare expert to be fully devoted to the patient’s needs and prioritize the patient’s well-being (Al-Yami et al., 2018). The specified quality is especially necessary in the instance of a disorder representing as great a threat to the patient’s health as asthma (Al-Yami et al., 2018). Furthermore, the fact that it is the child whose needs must be addressed predetermines increased commitment and focus on changes in the patient’s well-being (Al-Yami et al., 2018). Therefore, a nurse must demonstrate high levels of commitment.

Furthermore, empathy is required to maintain the extent of the healthcare professional’s efficiency. Without an empathetic attitude toward the patient, one will be unable to establish the rapport needed to educate him successfully since the patient and his parents will be unable to engage in a conversation (Adamson et al., 2018). Moreover, without the necessary level of empathy, ensuring that the patient and his family remain calm and positive about the further treatment prospects. Similarly, the use of empathy in communication with the patient and his parents will help minimize the emotional distress that they are currently experiencing, which, in turn, will reduce the threat of mental health issues. Among core mental health concerns that the focus on empathy will allow alleviating, one must mention anxiety and stress, which reduce the quality of patients’ lives to a significant extent (Adamson et al., 2018). Moreover, the described issues lead to the aggravation of the condition (Adamson et al., 2018). Therefore, empathy and compassion must also be included into the list of characteristics that a healthcare expert must possess.

Person-/Community-Centered Strategies

Finally, one must mention the necessity to keep the implementation of the specified strategies person- and community-oriented. Specifically, it is vital to design a strategy that will meet the specific needs of the patient in question, while also providing the bulk for the future design of a community-oriented framework. Namely, a healthcare expert must provide the patient’s parents access to critical data concerning the patient’s well-being and changes in his condition. The proposed step might seem slightly disruptive to the process of nursing care; however, it will lead to an improvement in the management of the patient’s needs. Namely, offering the parents greater control over the information about the boy’s condition and changes within it, one will create premises for awareness building and the development of a thorough and detailed understanding of how child asthma can be addressed.

Moreover, to meet the needs of the community, a nurse will have to focus on promoting awareness on a community level. Specifically, general information concerning the identification of asthma in children and the means of addressing the condition must be dispersed among community members (Jackson et al., 2018). The specified task can be accomplished by creating online and offline resources containing key information about the disease and the means of managing it, as well as the ways of addressing a healthcare expert. It is expected that the specified set of tools will allow parents to prevent asthma development in their children or locate the emergent concern before it becomes a substantial threat to a child’s health.

References

Adamson, K., Sengsavang, S., Charise, A., Wall, S., Kinross, L., & Balkaran, M. (2018). Narrative training as a method to promote nursing empathy within a pediatric rehabilitation setting.Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 42, e2-e9.

Agusala, V., Vij, P., Agusala, V., Dasari, V., & Kola, B. (2018). Can interactive parental education impact health care utilization in pediatric asthma: A study in rural Texas. Journal of International Medical Research, 46(8), pp.3172-3182.

Al‐Yami, M., Galdas, P., & Watson, R. (2018). Leadership style and organisational commitment among nursing staff in Saudi Arabia.Journal of Nursing Management, 26(5), 531-539.

Boulet, L. P., Reddel, H. K., Bateman, E., Pedersen, S., FitzGerald, J. M., & O’Byrne, P. M. (2019). The global initiative for asthma (GINA): 25 years later.European Respiratory Journal, 54(2), 1-9.

Culmer, N., Smith, T., Stager, C., Wright, A., Burgess, K., Johns, S., Watt, M. and Desch, M., 2020. Telemedical asthma education and health care outcomes for school-age children: a systematic review.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 8(6), pp.1908-1918.

Jackson, D.J., Bacharier, L.B., Mauger, D.T., Boehmer, S., Beigelman, A., Chmiel, J.F., Fitzpatrick, A.M., Gaffin, J.M., Morgan, W.J., Peters, S.P. and Phipatanakul, W., 2018. Quintupling inhaled glucocorticoids to prevent childhood asthma exacerbations.New England Journal of Medicine, 378(10), pp.891-901.

Park, H.J., Byun, M.K., Kwon, J.W., Kim, W.K., Nahm, D.H., Lee, M.G., Lee, S.P., Lee, S.Y., Lee, J.H., Jeong, Y.Y., & Cho, Y.S. (2018). Video education versus face-to-face education on inhaler technique for patients with well-controlled or partly-controlled asthma: A phase IV, open-label, non-inferiority, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.PloS One, 13(8), 1-15.

Ramadan, A. A., Gaffin, J. M., Israel, E., & Phipatanakul, W. (2019). Asthma and corticosteroid responses in childhood and adult asthma.Clinics in chest medicine, 40(1), 163-177.

Ramsey, R. R., Plevinsky, J. M., Kollin, S. R., Gibler, R. C., Guilbert, T. W., & Hommel, K. A. (2020). Systematic review of digital interventions for pediatric asthma management. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 8(4), 1284-1293. Web.

Saxby, N., Beggs, S., Battersby, M., & Lawn, S. (2019). What are the components of effective chronic condition self-management education interventions for children with asthma, cystic fibrosis, and diabetes? A systematic review. Patient education and counseling, 102(4), 607-622.

Strömberg Celind, F., Wennergren, G., Vasileiadou, S., Alm, B., Åberg, N., & Goksör, E. (2019). Higher parental education was associated with better asthma control.Acta Paediatrica, 108(5), 920-926.

Van Leeuwen, L. M., Pronk, M., Merkus, P., Goverts, S. T., Anema, J. R., & Kramer, S. E. (2020). Developing an intervention to implement an ICF-based e-intake tool in clinical otology and audiology practice. International Journal of Audiology, 59(4), 282-300.

Von Schantz, S., Katajavuori, N., & Juppo, A. M. (2018). The use of video instructions in patient education promoting correct technique for dry powder inhalers: An Investigation on Inhaler-Naïve Individuals. Pharmacy, 6(4), 106-120.

World Health Organization. (2020). Asthma.

Yen, P. H., & Leasure, A. R. (2019). Use and effectiveness of the teach-back method in patient education and health outcomes. Federal Practitioner, 36(6), 284.

The brochure describes the use of Tezspire, which is a drug used for the management of asthma. The drug is administered subcutaneously to treat severe asthma in children and adults. Asthma is an obstructive lung disease caused by exposure to allergens in predisposed individuals. In rare cases, asthma can be drug-induced through drugs such as Aspirin (Regnam & Richards, 2021). These three types of asthma; are extrinsic, intrinsic, and mixed types. The extrinsic type is the most common type, with childhood-onset and positive family history. The other two types are rare and are not caused by allergens. The brochure’s target audience is patients with a long history of asthma and their family and caregivers. It is written in a formal and straightforward language for the understanding of all parties. Patient education is a critical factor in the administration of drugs. The patient needs to know the full implication of the drug on the body and its primary purpose.

According to Dharmage et al. (2019), status asthmaticus, a severe form of asthma, has been a significant cause of death in patients with asthma. This drug has provided hope for these patients at the time of emergency. Moreover, the brochure provides the caregivers with information concerning the implication of administration of this drug with other drugs. Caregivers have a duty to educate their patients on drug administration and side effects. In most cases, caregivers omit essential information for the patients’ understanding during treatment. This brochure seeks to meet such objectives and compliments the caregivers’ effort to provide sufficient information on the use of Tezspire. The drug being new and effective, most physicians are likely to prescribe it to asthma patients. The brochure offers comprehensive information on the drug for the patient, family, and caregivers.

References

Dharmage, S. C., Perret, J. L., & Custovic, A. (2019). Epidemiology of asthma in children and adults. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 7(246). Web.

Regnam, D., & Richards, S. (2021). Tezspire in management of asthma. Medlineplus.gov. Web.

Inflammation is the process by which the human body’s white blood cells and substances protect against disease caused by outside invaders such as viruses and bacteria; inflammation can be either momentary or chronic. Immune activation fades in a couple of days or hours. Asthma is a respiratory disease that causes the passages to become inflamed and congested, rendering breathing difficult. Severe asthma may make it difficult to talk or work.

Asthma is a common and complex disease that is most probably triggered by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes the passages to become inflamed and congested, making breathing difficult. Severe asthma may make it tough to speak or work. On the basis of research articles, this work was created to investigate the function of inflammation in the allergic response.

Introduction

Inflammation is the procedure through which the human body’s white blood cells and the substances defend people from disease by outside intruders like bacteria or viruses. Inflammation could be either temporary or chronic; stimulation of the immune resolves in a matter of hours or days (Castro‐Rodriguez et al., 2018). The inflammatory process could last months and years after the initial trigger has passed (Ray & Kolls, 2017). When people have inflammation, substances from one’s body’s natural white blood cells infiltrate the blood or tissue to defend people against intruders (Pahwa et al., 2018). This increases blood flow to the site of damage or illness; it can produce flushing and heat. Some substances cause liquid to leak into the organs in order to attain maximum (Elliot et al., 2018). This defensive procedure has the potential to irritate nerves and produce pain. Increased numbers of white blood cells and the substances they make within the knees cause inflammation, inflammation of the systems are supported, and tissue loss throughout time.

Asthma is a chronic lung illness that causes the passageways to become inflamed and restricted, making it hard to breathe. Severe asthma might make it difficult to speak or be productive. Asthma is characterized by bronchial tube inflammation and excess sticky fluids within the tubes (Dharmage et al., 2019). Asthmatics have signs when their airways constrict, become inflamed, or fill with mucus. Asthma causes the bronchial tubes in the lungs to become red and inflamed; this inflammation has the potential to harm the lungs (Antonelli & Kushner, 2017). Addressing this is critical to long-term asthma management. This work is written in order to study the role of inflammation plays in the development of asthma on the basis of research papers.

Literature Review

Asthma is a prevalent and complicated condition that is most likely caused by a mix of genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers. When developing a treatment plan for individuals, it is critical to consider variables such as the microbiota, another atopic condition, viral diseases in young children, and other diseases such as overweight or paracetamol respiratory problems (Scherzer & Grayson, 2018). Asthma is a chronic airway illness that affects over 300 million individuals worldwide (Boonpiyathad et al., 2019). Asthma pathophysiology is highly heterogeneous, with several phenotypes describing observable traits and endotypes explaining molecular causes (Yang et al., 2017). Understanding the biological agent of asthma and characterizing asthma phenotypes is becoming increasingly essential for clinicians. Asthma is related to the body’s immune stimulation, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), initiation of epithelial cells, increased mucus production, and airway deformation. In the immunological pathways of asthma, both adaptive immune resistance plays a significant role.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables may lower the chance of acquiring asthma. As Western food habits have become increasingly prevalent, prevalence has continued to climb in the past few decades (Alwarith et al., 2020). Evidence shows that diets high in plant-based foods may prevent asthma formation and ameliorate asthma attacks through influencing inflammatory processes, oxidative, and bacterial balance. Furthermore, improved fruit and vegetable eating decreased animal product consumption, and weight control may influence cytokine production, free radical scavengers, and immunological responses implicated in the development and progression of asthma.

Meta-analyses evaluated the hazard ratio of children and adults in the most significant consumption group for fruits and vegetables to those in the poorest consumption group. Fruit and vegetable eating has been linked to a lower risk of getting asthma in both children and adults. Asthma symptoms can also be alleviated by eating vegetables. Vegetables and fruit have been significantly negatively correlated to wheezing problems in children. Adolescents also had an inverse relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and asthma complaints. Fruit and vegetable consumption had a similar preventive role in adult asthmatic patients.

A variety of environmental variables can influence the likelihood of acquiring asthma. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) met to examine evolving theories and obstacles in the implementation of the sample mean concept and its use in allergic disorders and asthma (Cevhertas et al., 2020). It is detailed how the exposome, genomic, transcripts, proteome, epigenome, and microbiome interact together to drive disease and endotype. Air quality has an impact on asthma attacks and the onset of asthma episodes.

Over the last decade, a better knowledge of the complicated biology of asthma has resulted in the development of novel asthma treatment alternatives. Patients with untreated breathing problems are now regularly investigated for biologic therapy as well as pulmonary thermoplasty. Long-term control therapy for asthma, such as hydrocortisone, long-acting testing phase, and oral medicines, are currently available. Acute bouts are treated with oral corticosteroids, beta-agonists, and inhaled bronchodilators. Exacerbations of asthma caused by involve exposure such as cigarette smoke, particle matter, pollen, mold, or dust mites can be reduced with climate management methods (Zhang et al., 2018). On the other hand, environmental management approaches do not address the symptoms of the disease. Obesity is a serious public health issue that is both potential risk and a condition modification for asthma in both adults and children (Peters et al., 2018). Obese people are more likely to develop asthma, and obese patients are prone to have more complaints, more frequent and more severe acute episodes, a worse response to various asthma treatments, and a lower quality of life (Tashiro & Shore, 2019). Obese asthma is a complicated illness with a variety of disease characteristics that are just now being identified.

Severe asthma continues to be a global concern, with insufficient knowledge of its etiology. It is distinguished by significant treatment regimes to partially or totally manage frequent and severe illnesses, as well as excessive use of healthcare resources. Asthma is characterized by a complex interaction of inflammatory disease and remolding, resulting in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR)—variable and severe airway shrinking (King et al., 2018). Severe asthma is frequently accompanied by some measure of chronic airflow restriction (Wang et al., 2020). When opposed to regular airways or moderate asthma, where airway narrowing is restricted, these pathological alterations result in diminished baseline pulmonary function and significant, excessive airway constriction when the muscle tissue is prompted to contract.

Although structural alterations in posthumous lungs after fatal asthma episodes may not generally be applicable to breathing problems, there are comparable changes in mortem and histological tissues of non-fatal but subjectively breathing problems compared to mild instances and non-asthmatic persons. There are distinct changes in central airway layer thickness between acute and slight asthma patients. The variations are less evident in the tiny airways, presumably due to the airways’ modest absolute size and diversity in airway total number. However, because of the increased wall area compared to the airway lumen size, tiny airways are more vulnerable to severe constriction and closure.

Discussion

The data on trends and environmental variables, especially among young children’s asthma, is comparable, albeit the evidence for childhood asthma is more extensive, which is mainly due to the greater critical attention that children’s asthma has gotten from the scientific community. The worldwide asthma pandemic is still ongoing, particularly in low- to middle-income nations, while it has lessened in several high-income ones. Although epidemiological research has helped to reveal several important environmental variables that cause asthma, the significance of environmental factors in the genesis of asthma is primarily understood. Interactions between possible variables may aid in elucidating the pathogenesis. As a result, there is an essential need to explore the complex processes behind the interdependence of genetic and environmental factors variables in order to identify high-risk populations and critical adjustable exposures. Considering the length effect of both childhood and adult asthma, some believe that our focus in reducing the health burden of respiratory problems should be squarely on addressing not only brief discomfort but also long-term lung and other clinical outcomes.

The worldwide asthma pandemic, which has been reported in both adults and children, is still ongoing, particularly in low and middle-income nations, while it has lessened in some developed countries. Asthma is a diverse illness with various phenotypes and endotypes that must be thoroughly described in order to establish more accurate and relevant definitions for use in research and therapeutic settings. New clustering approaches, such as latent class analysis, may aid with this, and computational phenotyping methods are being developed to gather information from healthcare data using text analytics (NLP) technologies to aid in the early identification of asthma.

The pathogenesis of breathing problems, which is marked by severe AHR, aberrant fixed lung capacity, high treatment needs, and persistent symptoms, is caused by a complicated interplay between inflammatory, airway remodeling, and modified lung dynamics. Airway inflammation in breathing problems is very complicated, encompassing both adaptation and natural processes, and a better knowledge of inflammation has allowed physicians to try and understand the clinical illness and treat severe asthma patients (Khalaf et al., 2019). More critically, there is a strong need to understand how inflammation and airflow reorganization combine, resulting in the aberrant physiology of AHR in respiratory disease. In severe asthma, the extent of structural alterations to the small airways is greater and more nonoverlapping scattered (Bush et al., 2017). Moreover, in breathing problems, the mechanical characteristics of the pulmonary parenchyma and the connection between airway and bronchoalveolar structures are more aberrant, amplifying the mechanical effects of airway inflammation (Tliba & Panettieri Jr, 2019). These mechanisms cause severe, readily triggered, and often permanent airway constriction, the complicated mechanics of which are becoming better understood.

Conclusion

Asthma research generates thousands of articles each year and is one of the fastest-growing fields. The majority of the recent significant advancements have focused on precision medicine, endotypes and phenotypes, biomarkers, novel therapies such as biologicals, and real-life research. Many chronic diseases will be treated in the future using a tailored approach to patients and focused medicines. The primary areas of focus for further enhancing patient treatment are a greater understanding of molecular processes and the discovery of new markers.

Asthma is a condition that is most commonly diagnosed in childhood, but it can appear at any age. There is still disagreement in the industry over whether asthma is a single illness or a group of disorders with airway inflammation as a fundamental feature. There are environmental and comorbidity risk factors for the illness that are expected to play essential roles in the genesis of asthma, the development of symptoms, and the response to therapy. These considerations become even more critical when people go toward the future with the objective of individualized therapy.

Asthma is a common and complex disease that is most likely caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. It is crucial to consider factors such as the microbiome, another atopic condition, viral infections in young children, and other conditions such as obesity or paracetamol respiratory issues when formulating a treatment strategy for people. For doctors, understanding the biological agent of asthma and identifying asthma phenotypes is becoming increasingly important. Asthma is associated with immunological stimulation, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), epithelial cell proliferation, increased mucus production, and airway deformation. Both adaptive immune resistance and innate immune resistant play essential roles in the immunology pathways of asthma.

Evidence suggests that diets rich in plant-based foods can help prevent asthma attacks and reduce asthma flare-ups by affecting inflammatory reactions, oxidative stress, and bacterial equilibrium. Moreover, increased fruit and vegetable consumption, reduced animal product consumption, and weight control may alter cytokine production, free radical formation, and immunological responses involved in the creation and advancement of asthma. The danger proportion of children and adults in the highest reported group for fruits and vegetables compared to those in the lowest consumption group was examined in meta-analyses. In both children and adults, consuming fruits and vegetables has been associated with a decreased risk of developing asthma. Eating veggies can also help to relieve asthma symptoms.

Over the last decade, increased understanding of the complex biology of asthma has resulted in the emergence of innovative asthma treatment options. Patients who have untreated respiratory issues are now routinely evaluated for biologic treatment and pulmonary thermoplasty. Long-term asthma control treatment, such as corticosteroid, long-acting test environment, and oral medications, is now accessible. Oral corticosteroids, beta-agonists, and inhaled bronchodilators are used to treat acute episodes. Environmental mitigation strategies, on the other hand, do not treat the disease’s symptoms.

Obesity is a critical public health concern that may both be a risk factor for and a cause of asthma in both adults and children. Obese persons are more likely to acquire asthma, and obese patients have more symptoms, more frequent and intense acute attacks, worse responsiveness to various asthma therapies, and reduced quality of life. Obese asthma is a complex condition with a number of clinical features that are only now being discovered.

Although radical reforms in postmortem lungs following fatal asthma episodes may not be generalizable to respiratory difficulties, there are similar changes in postmortem and histology tissue of non-fatal but apparently difficulty breathing when compared to mild cases and non-asthmatic individuals. The central airway layer thickness differs significantly between patients with acute and mild asthma. The changes are less visible in the microscopic airways, owing to their small absolute size and variability in airway total number.

References

Alwarith, J., Kahleova, H., Crosby, L., Brooks, A., Brandon, L., Levin, S. M., & Barnard, N. D. (2020). The role of nutrition in asthma prevention and treatment. Nutrition Reviews, 78(11), 928-938.

Antonelli, M., & Kushner, I. (2017). It is time to redefine inflammation. The FASEB Journal, 31(5), 1787-1791.

Boonpiyathad, T., Sözener, Z. C., Satitsuksanoa, P., & Akdis, C. A. (2019). Immunologic mechanisms in asthma. In Seminars in immunology. Academic Press, 46.

Bush, A., Fleming, L., & Saglani, S. (2017). Severe asthma in children. Respirology, 22(5), 886-897.

Cevhertas, L., Ogulur, I., Maurer, D. J., Burla, D., Ding, M., Jansen, K., & Akdis, C. A. (2020). Advances and recent developments in asthma in 2020. Allergy, 75(12), 3124-3146.

Castro‐Rodriguez, J. A., Saglani, S., Rodriguez‐Martinez, C. E., Oyarzun, M. A., Fleming, L., & Bush, A. (2018). The relationship between inflammation and remodeling in childhood asthma: a systematic review.Pediatric Pulmonology, 53(6), 824-835.

Dharmage, S. C., Perret, J. L., & Custovic, A. (2019). Epidemiology of asthma in children and adults. Frontiers in pediatrics, 7, 246.

Elliot, J. G., Noble, P. B., Mauad, T., Bai, T. R., Abramson, M. J., McKay, K. O., & James, A. L. (2018). Inflammation‐dependent and independent airway remodeling in asthma. Respirology, 23(12), 1138-1145.

King, G. G., James, A., Harkness, L., & Wark, P. A. (2018). Pathophysiology of severe asthma: We have only just started. Respirology, 23(3), 262-271.

Khalaf, K., Paoletti, G., Puggioni, F., Racca, F., De Luca, F., Giorgis, V., & Heffler, E. (2019). Asthma from immune pathogenesis to precision medicine. In Seminars in Immunology. Academic Press, 46.

McGregor, M. C., Krings, J. G., Nair, P., & Castro, M. (2019). Role of biologics in asthma. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 199(4), 433-445.

Pahwa, R., Goyal, A., Bansal, P., & Jialal, I. (2018). Chronic inflammation.

Peters, U., Dixon, A. E., & Forno, E. (2018). Obesity and asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 141(4), 1169-1179.

Ray, A., & Kolls, J. K. (2017). Neutrophilic inflammation in asthma and association with disease severity. Trends in immunology, 38(12), 942-954.

Scherzer, R., & Grayson, M. H. (2018). Heterogeneity and the origins of asthma.Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 121(4), 400-405.

Tashiro, H., & Shore, S. A. (2019). Obesity and severe asthma. Allergology International, 68(2), 135-142.

Tliba, O., & Panettieri Jr, R. A. (2019). Paucigranulocytic asthma: uncoupling of airway obstruction from inflammation. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 143(4), 1287-1294.

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Yang, I. V., Lozupone, C. A., & Schwartz, D. A. (2017). The environment, epigenome, and asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 140(1), 14-23.

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Background

This scientific paper explores the respiratory disease asthma. In the modern world, many people face this disease, which is why it is necessary to study this ailment. Therefore, this work focuses on such aspects of the disease as description, symptoms, people at risk, and treatment. Moreover, this study examines preventive measures that can contribute to reducing the dynamics of the occurrence of the disease among the population.

Description of the Disease

First of all, before discussing measures to prevent an increase in the case of the disease, it is necessary to understand the nature of the disease. Research shows that “asthma is a serious disease that affects about 25 million Americans and causes nearly 1.6 million emergency room visits every year” (Ratini, 2021, para. 2). As indicated in the sources, “chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways with bronchial hyper-responsiveness to a variety of stimuli and variable airflow obstruction that is often reversible either spontaneously or with treatment” (Fajt et al., 2017). In other words, this disease causes swelling and narrowing of the respiratory tract and the possible occurrence of excessive mucus on them (Figure 1). As a result of this process, there is difficulty breathing, coughing, and a slight whistle when inhaling and exhaling.

The peculiarity of this disease is that all people experience it in different ways. For someone, it may be asymptomatic, and for someone, it may have severe consequences that complicate everyday life. An asthma attack can become a particular danger for asthma patients. An unfavorable prognosis is that such a respiratory disease as asthma is not fully treated, but it can be controlled and put into remission. This can be done with the help of constant monitoring of the doctor and following all necessary instructions.

Depending on the symptoms, doctors distinguish several types of asthma. The first type is called mild intermittent asthma, which is characterized by rare symptoms and a low number of asthma attacks. The second involves the daily manifestation of symptoms that interfere with daily activities and is called moderate persistent asthma. The latter, severe persistent asthma, is characterized by even more frequent manifestations of asthma, which places severe restrictions on the patient’s vital activity and capabilities.

Therefore, based on the above qualifications, more detailed types of respiratory asthma disease are distinguished. This may be adult-onset asthma, which manifests itself in people under forty years of age, status asthmaticus, which continues to affect the human body, even with treatment and asthma in children. This type of disease varies from child to child and has such notable symptoms as cough, heavy breathing, and weakness.

Another common type of asthma is allergic asthma. It is emphasized that “the unique role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) had been identified as the main reason for this respiratory inflammation” (Qu, 2017, p. 32). The pathogens of this species include dust or pollen of flowers and plants. Moreover, there is also nonallergic asthma, which occurs at high or low temperatures, severe stress, or other respiratory diseases. A particular type is eosinophilic asthma, which is characterized by a high level of blood cells, and most often, people aged 35 and 50 years old have it (Bakakos et al., 2019). In addition, there is aspirin-induced asthma caused by taking aspirin, and such consequences as running nose, sneezing, and a cough.

Contraction of the Disease

The next aspect that requires detailed consideration is the ways of infection with the respiratory disease asthma. Thus, the aspects that can provoke asthma are external and internal factors before a person is born or a genetic predisposition. A particularly interesting impact factor is race, where African American or Puerto Rican people are more prone to the disease. Moreover, boys are more predisposed to the respiratory disease under study than girls. However, at an older age, this circumstance changes, and women suffer from asthma more often (Naeem & Silveyra, 2019). Moreover, asthma is also affected by various other diseases such as lung infections, obesity, and allergies. All groups of the population are exposed to the disease, regardless of age, gender, and social status.

Affect on the Patient

There are three main symptoms of the respiratory disease asthma. The first is the blocking of the airways, which manifests itself in the contraction of the muscles of the airways when breathing, which makes it difficult for air to pass. Next, there is inflammation, which is characterized by swelling of the bronchial tubes, which can significantly affect the work of the lungs. The last main symptom of asthma is the inability of the respiratory tract to function correctly. This affects the fact that the respiratory system is very susceptible to reactions to external and internal stimuli and narrows when interacting with them.

Other, more common symptoms that are most common in asthma patients are coughing, whistling while breathing, lack of air when breathing, pain or pressure in the chest. In addition, all these symptoms affect sleep disorders due to breathing difficulties and a general barrier to the performance of vital functions. It is worth noting that all people have asthma characterized by different symptoms for each person. Moreover, they can change over time, which is predominantly caused by asthma attacks that leave a mark on human health.

Another effect of asthma on people is that some symptoms may not manifest for a long time, while others may experience them constantly. Another exciting factor is the manifestation of asthmatic features only during physical exertion or in combination with other infectious diseases. With the help of medical examination, timely detection of asthma symptoms is critically necessary since their detection can significantly facilitate the patient’s life.

Treatment

As already mentioned, asthma is not a type of respiratory disease that can be cured entirely. At the same time, there are ways that can significantly ease the course of the disease or even put it into remission. One of the methods that are used for each patient is the use of special inhalers. The active effect of this drug is the effect of reducing swelling in the lungs and reducing mucus secretion. One of the most effective is inhaled corticosteroids, which are used throughout the treatment. The number of times of use and the time frame is determined by the patient’s attending physician.

Among inhaled corticosteroids, one can highlight beclomethasone, budesonide, and leukotriene modifiers. The latter block leukotrienes, which cause asthma attacks in patients. There are also long-acting beta-agonists that reduce tension in the muscles of the respiratory tract, ciclesonide (Alvesco), mometasone (Asmanex), and salmeterol (Serevent). Another subspecies are combined inhalers, which provide the patient with corticosteroid and a long-acting beta-agonist together when inhaling. Among them, such drugs as fluticasone and salmeterol (Advair Diskus, AirDuo Respiclick) or, for example, mometasone and formoterol (Dulera) are produced. In addition to inhalers, there are oral and intravenous corticosteroids, which include Methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Flo-pred, Orapred, Pediapred, Prelone), and Prednisone (Deltasone). They are also often used together in inhalers and are used to reduce swelling and infection in the respiratory tract. Non-drug treatment, biological, is used in cases where medications do not have exceptional efficacy. Examples of such drugs are bevacizumab (Fastener), mepolizumab (Nucala), and reslizumab (Cinqair).

Prevention of the Disease

Medications are the primary way to treat respiratory asthma disease. However, there are some ways that will help control the disease and reduce cases of asthma attacks. These measures include avoiding the pathogens of asthma, if it is, for example, allergic, constant physical stress, maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, constant breathing exercises are recommended to alleviate asthma symptoms. This may also include activities such as yoga, acupuncture, or supplements like vitamin C. It is worth remembering that all these actions are performed simultaneously with taking the necessary medications prescribed to the patient by the attending physician.

Asthma Attack

The part that aroused the most significant interest in conducting this study was the attack of asthma as the most severe and dangerous manifestation of respiratory disease. This attack is characterized by a strong tone of the muscles of the respiratory tract, which causes their tightening and difficulty breathing. Thus, this process is called bronchospasm and can have severe consequences for human health. In addition, in addition to the narrowing of the airways, additional mucus is formed on them than usual. In addition to the difficulty of breathing, patients also experience wheezing, coughing, and trouble with regular activities. In addition to these symptoms, chest pain, a feeling of panic and anxiety, pale skin, and blue lips and fingertips may also appear.

Based on the above, it is critically important to note that asthma treatment should be applied in a timely and continuous manner to avoid the manifestation of such dangerous incidents. Without the use of drugs such as asthma inhalers or bronchodilators, people can suffer severe consequences for their health. Thus, in such cases, an urgent appeal to the ambulance is necessary for further provision of medical services and mitigation of symptoms.

To prevent the manifestation of an asthma attack, several rules must be followed to avoid negative consequences. They include the removal of asthma triggers, following the instructions of the attending physician on taking medications, and constant monitoring of the patient’s well-being (Gautier & Charpin, 2017). Coupled with the study of all aspects of the disease, it will help to understand the body better and can also reduce the number of attacks. It is also helpful in gaining knowledge about what measures should be taken when dangerous incidents of illness occur. It is worth emphasizing that such data and emergency care skills should also be known by all the close people around the patient.

Thus, this scientific work considered such a respiratory disease as asthma. First of all, the description of the disease was investigated and what is its mechanism. Further, the symptoms of asthma and what measures can be applied to reduce its impact were analyzed. Interest was aroused by asthma attacks, which were considered as useful additional information at the end of the work. In conclusion, it is essential to note that acquiring this knowledge and spreading awareness about them among the population will help significantly improve the dynamics of the spread of the disease and the occurrence of incidents dangerous to human health.

References

Ratini, M. (2021). Asthma. WebMD. Web.

Fajt, M. L., & Wenzel, S. E. (2017). Development of new therapies for severe asthma.Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research, 9(1), 3-14. Web.

Qu, J., Li, Y., Zhong, W., Gao, P., & Hu, C. (2017). Recent developments in the role of reactive oxygen species in allergic asthma.Journal of Thoracic Disease, 9(1), 32-43. Web.

Bakakos, A., Loukides, S., & Bakakos, P. (2019). Severe eosinophilic asthma. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8(9), 1375. Web.

Naeem, A., & Silveyra, P. (2019). Sex differences in paediatric and adult asthma. European Medical Journal (Chelmsford, England), 4(2), 27.

Gautier, C., & Charpin, D. (2017). Environmental triggers and avoidance in the management of asthma.Journal of Asthma and Allergy, 10, 47. Web.

Asthma. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Web.

Introduction

Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA), also known as Exercise-Induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a respiratory condition that causes patients to experience shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing immediately after physical exercise (Spooner, Spooner & Rowe, 2009). The condition is common among children, and is often associated with other forms of childhood asthma (Kersten et al, 2012). With such a profound impact, EIA has received a lot of attention from the medical fraternity, with numerous studies being done on it. This paper reviews these studies and other study reviews on EIA and outlines the pathogenesis of the condition, its diagnosis, treatment and management.

Pathogenesis of Exercise-Induced Asthma

The onset of an EIA attack follows a constriction of the airways of the patient after physical exercise. The constriction is caused by loss of water vapor in the bronchi of a patient. This is followed by an increase in osmolarity of the liquid on the surface of the airway leading to an asthma attack. When water shifts from the cells of the epithelium to the airway surface, it causes a release of mediators from the inflammatory cells that cause constriction of the bronchi. Exercising in cold or dry air can lead to an increase in the severity of EIA (Kersten et al, 2012). The attack is also caused by inflammation of the bronchi and a dysfunction of the smooth muscles (Backer & Rasmussen, 2009).

The greatest constriction of the bronchi occurs between 3 and 15 minutes after the patient has rested from the exercise. This phase takes between 20 and 60 minutes to subside. Some patients may experience a refractory period extending to 3 hours, during which more exercise causes less constriction. Factors that influence the severity of the reaction include the severity of asthma, duration and intensity of the exercise or activity, environmental conditions, and the interval of time since the previous exercise (Spooner, Spooner, & Rowe, 2009).

Diagnosis of Exercise-Induced Asthma

EIA occurs when continuous exercise causes the narrowing of the airway resulting in symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, tightness of the chest, premature fatigue and reduced stamina (Spooner, Spooner, & Rowe, 2009). These symptoms are the first indicators of the presence of EIA (hull et al, 2009). The symptoms are also seen to vary from patient to patient (Backer & Rasmussen, 2009). However, for a proper treatment to be given, a proper diagnosis must be done since the symptoms are not conclusive evidence of the presence of EIA. Medical practitioners use bronchoprovocation testing as a method of diagnosing for EIA. The most commom method used is the use of laboratory-based exercise tests (Hull et al, 2009). Other methods used include the trial of an inhaled beta-agonist during exercise, monitoring of the serial peak flow, reversibility testing, electrocardiogram, chest radiograph and use of a full blood count (Hull et al, 2009).

Treatment and control of Exercise-Induced Asthma

Traditionally, EIA has been controlled using nebulized short-acting beta-agonists, an example being salbutamol, which serve the purpose of relieving acute asthma attacks. These medications have, however, been linked to the spread of air borne infections such as H1N1. An alternative to this medication was therefore developed, which is the use of budesonide (formoterol) under the brand name Symbicort, a long- acting beta-agonist. It is in form of an inhaler. A study conducted on its effectiveness showed no significant variation between its effectiveness and the effectiveness of salbutamol, which makes it a better alternative since it carries no risk of infection spread (Chew, Kamarudin, & Hashim, 2012). Spooner, Spooner & Rowe (2009) also propose the use of b-agonosts, stating that they are more effective than anticholigenic medication in inducing bronchial dilation which reverses the constriction effect.

Backer & Rasmussen (2009) propose different treatments and control of EIA, based on the cause of the constriction of the brinchi. For constriction caused by inflammation, he proposes the use of corticosteroids while constriction caused by a dysfunction of the smooth muscles should be treated using a beta-agonist inhaler.

Conclusion

Treatment of EIA is important for active people. It has been seen to enable athletes to participate in any physical activity, allowing them to perform at normal or even above normal levels without the symptoms of the condition hindering their activity. Treatment of the condition also improves the self esteem of the patient (Spooner, Spooner, & Rowe, 2009). This means that even children, who are continuously active, can engage in play and lead normal lives if the condition is controlled through use of the right medication.

References

Backer, V., & Rasmussen, L. (2009). Exercise-Induced Asthma Symptoms and Nighttime Asthma: Are They Similar to AHR? Journal of Allergy, Article ID 378245, Web.

Chew, K. S., Kamarudin, H., & Hashim, C. W. (2012). A randomized open-label trial on the use of budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®) as an alternative reliever medication for mild to moderate asthmatic attacks. International Journal of Emergency Medicine, 5:16, Web.

Hull, J. H., Hull, P. J., Parsons, J. P., Dickinson, J. W., & Ansley, L. (2009). Approach to the diagnosis and management of suspected exercise-induced bronchoconstriction by primary care physicians. BMC Pulmonary Medicine , 9:29, Web.

Kersten, Elin T.G.; Leeuwen, Janneke C. van; Brand, Paul L.P.; Duiverman, Eric J.; Jongh, Frans H.C. de; Thio, Bernard J.; Driessen, Jean M.M. (2012). Effect of an Intranasal Corticosteroid on Exercise Induced Bronchoconstriction in Asthmatic Children.Pediatric Pulmonology , 47, 27–35, Web.

Spooner, C., Spooner, G., & Rowe, B. (2009). Mast-cell stabilising agents to prevent exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (Review). The Cochrane Library. Web.

Nowadays, asthma has become one of the most common diseases in the United States and the world. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA, 2021), 25 million people nationwide have asthma. While the disease does not manifest itself on a daily basis, annually, people with asthma have at least one serious episode. In order to define the nature of this disease, it is necessary to dwell on the pathophysiology or the distortions in the physiological process of asthma.

Pathophysiology

The primary organ affected by asthma is the lungs, as the disease is caused by airway narrowing and the inability to breathe. Hence, one of the major changes in the airway caused by asthma is bronchoconstriction. According to Sinyor and Perez (2021), this phenomenon stands for the rapid airway response to external irritants and triggers. For example, if a person is exposed to a certain allergen, in order to prevent the exposure, bronchial smooth muscle creates contractions that block the airway (Sinyor & Perez, 2021). Being one of the most common and evident responses to an allergic reaction or any external trigger, including cold air or exercise, bronchoconstriction can be stopped by limiting the exposure to the trigger or by administering epinephrine.

Another physiological manifestation of asthma is airway edema. This phenomenon is more complex and challenging for an affected individual. This process includes further inflammation and the occurrence of mucus plugs that block one’s airways (Sinyor & Perez, 2021). These issues can cause long-term changes in the airway structure, limiting one’s ability to liquidate bronchoconstriction. Thus, in some cases, the airway barriers caused by triggers can only partially go back to normal, creating a major obstruction in the long term. Finally, frequent exposure to allergens and triggers can lead to such a physiological phenomenon as an airway hypersensitivity, including a more serious and active response to minimal exposure to allergens and other triggers (Sinyor & Perez, 2021). Hence, taking into consideration the pathophysiology of asthma, it can be concluded that the general pattern of the disease is characterized by the airway limitation and lung pressure that happens as a result of exposure to an irritant or stimulus. The severity of airway blockage depends on the personal reaction to an irritant and its quantity.

Symptoms and Manifestation

Although asthma is a disease that accounts for unique reactions to allergens, the average physical exam will showcase the three most common asthma processes, namely:

• Airway swelling;
• Airway clogging by mucus plugs;
• Muscle tightening (AAFA, 2022).

These processes, in their turn, are manifested through such signs and symptoms as shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, and wheezing. Hence, depending on the severity of these symptoms, patients are expected to either address the doctor immediately or prevent the attack locally, using quick-relief medications such as EpiPen or preventive medicine such as corticosteroids. There are three major asthma zones, including green, yellow, and red. According to the zone, people experiencing asthma symptoms need to take prescriptive or quick-relief medication and seek professional clinical assistance.

While in most cases, asthma can be hard to predict, the most common risk factors include a genetic predisposition to asthma, conditions related to allergic reactions, having serious respiratory infections as a child, and being exposed to various irritants and chemicals at work. For this reason, if a person feels episodes of breath shortness, cough, or tightness of breath, it is recommended they address a clinical professional immediately. By using physicals such as spirometry, professionals are capable of early disease recognition and asthma attack prophylaxis.

References

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. (2021). Asthma facts and figures.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. (2022). What are the symptoms of asthma?

Sinyor, B., & Perez, L. C. (2021). Pathophysiology of asthma. In StatPearls [E-book]. StatPearls Publishing.