RUNNING HEAD: ASTHMA THE CONDITION

Raquinta Wilks

Rasmussen College

NUR1171

Patricia Autumn

January 31, 2021

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Introduction

Asthma is among the main chronic respiratory disease that changes the respiratory

purpose of the body. In the World Health Organization, Asthma is defined as a long-lasting

inflammatory condition that affects the airways and is characterized by common episodes of

wheezing and breathlessness. The breathing challenges is as a result of constrictions and swelling

of the airways. Exposure to pollutants, allergens, infections, exercise, and cold air may raise

make asthmatic people more vulnerable to attacks. Asthma bears a global prevalence of more

than two hundred million. It is described as a heterogenous illness s associated with rescindable

airflow impediment, hyperresponsiveness of the bronchus, and inflammation.

The pathophysiology of Asthma is described as a pathologic state that impacts the lower

breathing tract by making the airways narrow due to damage of the epithelia, excessive

production of mucus, constriction of the bronchus, oedema, and damage of the muscle. Asthma

can destroy the layer of the epithelium and peel it away and make the breathing tract extra

vulnerable to infections and allergens, hence contributing to hyper-responsiveness of the airway.

Additionally, Asthma prompts the growth of mucus glands and mucus cells. As a result,

production of mucus raises, hence forming mucus plugs that can obstruct the airways.

Respiratory oedema is another alteration that happens in the breathing tract as a result of asthma.

It includes the dilation and leaking of vessels in the walls of the air tract hence limiting flow of

air.
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Signs and Symptoms of Asthma

People suffering from Asthma show signs such as cough, wheezing, chest tightness, and

dyspnea. Symptoms can vary in frequency upon reception of treatment, in relation to their

sternness and exhibits hypersensitization to allergens which could trigger exacerbations (Mims et

al., 2015).

Causes of Asthma

Asthma is prompted by environmental stimuli which include air pollution, allergens such

as pet hair, dust mites, and pollen, infant exposure to tobacco smoke, and weather change. Below

15 percent of children suffering from unceasing wheezing might get asthma in infancy whereas

others with obesity, atopic rhinitis, dermatitis, and eczema are at more risk of getting asthma.

Furthermore, there is a complex occurrence of asthma amidst boys compared to girls, and

an extra prevalence amidst women compared to men as a result of hormonal aspects. Generally,

boys undergo remission of asthma because of improved lung development and growth of the

respiratory system while influences by hormones might impact control of asthma in pregnant

women (Everard et al., 2014). Other risk aspects that can impact the immune components in new

beginning of asthma are emotional stress, exercise, and contact with chemical matters like hair

dyes, cleaning liquids, marijuana usage, and paint. Infections from virus which affect kids can

also lead to adverse effects to the epithelial cells of the respiratory system, hence leading to the

growth of T-helper (TH2) associated asthma.

Asthma risks factors

A research done by NACA in 2012 revealed the risk aspects of asthma as pollutants,

smoking, allergens, temperature change, obesity, exercise, and occupational factors. Allergens
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recognized as triggers of asthma are animal fur, house dust mites, tobacco smoke, pollens,

moulds, paint fumes, bushfire smoke, air pollutants, and house cleaning commodities (Australia,

2015). Complementary medicines and Asprin can also prompt asthma among other triggers such

as flu and cold. Stress, dust, and chemicals are viewed as occupation aspects which might prompt

asthmatic attacks.

Complications you face when having asthma

Asthmatic people are likely to develop health complications as the condition gets severe.

Some of the complications most likely to be observed from asthmatic patients are breathlessness,

and frequent medical needs which lead to day-to-day hospitalizations. The breathlessness is

caused by the prostaglandins and leukotrienes which alter the smooth muscles of the respiratory

system walls developing a constriction of the windpipe (Tortajada-Girbés et al., 2016). The

constrictions developed in the windpipe might permanently lead to narrowing of the windpipe.

Role's nutrition play in prevention and treatment of asthma and recommend diets for

asthma patients

Treatment of asthma

Among the major challenges faced when treating asthma is noncompliance by the patient,

non-adherence to medication, and poor techniques of using the inhaler. Adherence leads to low

death rate of asthmatic people as whereas overdose of the medicines which relieve signs and

does not treat the major causes results in increased death rate (Padmanabhan, 2014). Numerous

phenotypes of asthma are revocable via the usage of anti-inflammatory medications like ICS.

Other treatment forms which monitor and reduce asthma and its symptoms include

anticholinergics, anti-IgE, leukotriene allergies modifiers, chromones. Glucocorticoids are the

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ideal first-option medication that could be given via the mouth, as ICS or injected alongside

exacerbations (Ortega, 2015).

Recommended diets for people with asthma

A report written by Andrews in 2010 suggested that vegetables and fruits help asthmatic

patients to boost the functioning of their lungs and the respiratory system at large whereas foods

such as salmon, sardines, and fish which have plenty of omega 3 aid in prevention of symptoms

of asthma (Guilleminault et al., 2017). Additionally, whole grains are considered helpful to

asthmatic people while dairy products and fatty meat are considered risky.

Examining the role of dairy in asthma control

People think that consumption of diary products may affect the health life of an asthmatic

patient of make their conditions worse, but there is no determined connection amid asthma and

dairy products or milk. However, for people with allergies to dairy products, consumption of

those products may trigger signs and symptoms which are similar to that of an asthma patient.

Additionally, if one has both asthma and allergies to dairy, dairy consumption may make worse

the symptoms of asthma. An approximated forty percent of children living with asthma have

other allergies to foods (So et al., 2018). Children living with food allergies have four times

higher chances of getting asthma and other conditions of allergies compared to children who do

not have food allergies. Food allergies and asthma are all ignited by similar reactions. The body

immune system goes into override due to mistaking of allergens of foods as attackers.

However, a study carried out on kids with asthma which involved a diet free from milk

and another one with milk brought out contradictory results (So et al., 2018). The diet free of

milk led to experience of twenty two percent enhancement in peak expiratory flow rate to the
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children in the group as children who were given milk had a decrease of 0.6 percent in the peak

expiratory flow rate. Therefore, although the asthma experts recommend consumption of up to

three cups of milk daily by the asthmatic people, recommendations are made by researchers to

review the dietary guideline for intake of dairy.

Nursing assessment and interventions to asthmatic patients

Diagnosis by doctor or nurse

Asthma diagnosis can be carried out via a thorough history, performance of physical

assessments, laboratory assessments, and testing of pulmonary functioning. Doctors say that

pulmonary function test also known as PFTs which is typically carried out using spirometry, are

the utmost correct tests which can be done to ascertain that one is suffering from asthma. Signs

which are assuaged by bronchodilators designate asthma as the fundamental cause.

Consequently, it is vital to perform tests when patients are symptomatic permitting accurate

diagnosis (So et al., 2018). The age on the start beginning of asthma diagnosis should also be out

into consideration. Though asthma displays same characteristics in adults and children, there are

major dissimilarities amid them. For instance, onset of asthma in adults brings about

sensitization to occupational aspects and are usually misdiagnosed for bronchitis or COPD.

Since asthma is a hereditary illness, a detailed history of the patient is needed to

determine whether there exist any symptoms of family history, atopy, or chronic exposure to

chemical. Asthma can also be dragonized via monitoring of exhaled nitric oxide and inspection

of sputum amounts for fungi or bacteria infecting airway tract and lungs (So et al., 2018). The

response of the patient to provocation of methacholine, a positive skin prick reply to allergens

and a reduction in peak expiratory flow (PEF) are additional symptoms od asthma. Additionally,
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analysis of blood, bronchoscopy, or sputum might also reveal eosinophilic asthma via

observation of the anomalous blood eosinophilic counts.

Intervention and Education

There is no established cure for asthma and asthma needs to be managed in order for the

client or patient to have a healthier or a better life. As a result, educating the patient on ways and

methods of managing the condition is a vital role which is undertaken by the health care experts.

Patients need to be educated on the signs and symptoms of the condition and what triggers it, so

that asthma attacks are lessened and prevented (So et al., 2018). Patients should be educated to

asses their breathings conditions, swallow their medicines at the right time and correct dosage

and determine the time they are supposed to visit their health experts. Additionally, clients

should also be educated on the usage of metered dose bronchodilators, peak flow meters, and

bronchodilators with spacers. Moreover, a nurse is needed to teach his or clients on relaxation

activities and the significance of avoiding smoking. Asthmatic people should also be taught on

the importance of having enough sleep and rest, adequate intake of fluids, and proper nutrition.

Conclusion

Asthma is a long-lasting condition of the respiratory system that can be identified via

presence of symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing.

Swelling and narrowing of the windpipe and accelerated production of mucus are the main

symptoms sough after when establishing a condition of asthma. Pulmonary function tests,

physical assessments, chest X-rays, and blood tests are other ways used to determine whether

one has asthma. The medicines used to manage the chronic condition are symptom controllers

and symptom preventers. Symptom preventer medicines are utilized in the immediate control of
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the symptoms of the condition. Ingestion or inhalation of pollutants, allergens, exercises,

exposure to coldness, infections, and occupational aspects which include chemicals and dust may

be classified as risk factors of asthma, and healthcare experts should provide patients with

information and education to minimize or prevent attacks from asthma. Long lasting conditions

of asthma impact the patient’s social, physiological, and physical wellbeing.

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