Descriptive Essay About Asthma

Breathing is a vital process for every human. Normal breathing is practically effortless for most people, but those with asthma face a great challenge. During an asthma attack, breathing is hampered, making it difficult or even impossible for air to flow through the lungs. Asthma is an increasingly common problem, and has become the most common chronic childhood disease. At least 17 million Americans suffer from it(1), and although it can be fatal, it is usually not that severe(4). There is no cure for asthma, but with proper care, it can usually be controlled.

The feeling of a lead brick on your chest, desperately needing air but unable to draw a breath and the feeling of drowning in the very substance you need to survive. Shaking hands squeeze a canister and suddenly there is a rush of medication, an odd taste and then the brick gets lighter and lighter as gradually more oxygen comes in and once again air is flowing in and out properly. For an individual with asthma, an inhaler feels like the most amazing invention ever to grace the human mind or hands. Without the medicine stored in the tiny canister, life as is known by the average non-asthmatic would be but a dream for myself and around 25.7 million other people (Akinbami and Johnson, 2012). The idea of inhaling medicine to cure ailments started

“Sarah is at Children's Hospital, in the ICU”. Those are the words that changed my life. Sarah is extremely sick and it's making me want to be smart, strong, and kind. My sister, Sarah had lung failure when she was in 7th grade, she was hospitalized and stayed at Children’s Hospital in the ICU for around a week. Nearly a year later they found out what was wrong with her, she has Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia and Severe Asthma. When I saw her get sick I saw her being strong, nice, and keeping up on school work she made me want to have these qualities as well.

Let me tell the story of a little girl who grew up loving film. I vividly remember sitting at the foot of my mother’s bed watching television movies on our old big box TV. I grew up with chronic Asthma, so as a child I would often find comfort in moving images on the screen as the continuous hums from the nebulizer soothe me and the steroids released my constricted airways. Around the age of six I learned to give myself Asthma treatments without waking my working single mother. I would come into my mother’s room for comfort as she slept, gather my medicine, turn on the television, and escape to a world that was full of wonder. This was when I first fell in love with film.

Throughout the years knowledge about asthma has grown, as well as treating it effectively. Over 300 million people are said to be victims of this disease with another 100 million being estimated by 2025 globally (Currie and Baker, 2012). In the United Kingdom, asthma is increasingly becoming one of the leading disease affecting individual of different age, ethnicity, race and gender. British Lung Foundation (2011) stated that it is more common at childhood stage and can also occur at a later age. According to Asthma UK (2014) asthma in men is less prevalence than it is in women and children troubled more with asthma than adults. Recent data in the UK shows that in children and occupational asthma in adult is on the rise with an estimate

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases and recognized as a growing public health concern. Exposure to tobacco smoke either through active smoking or by secondhand smoke can cause and/or exacerbate an asthma attack or asthma symptoms (Californian Environmental Protection Agency [Cal EPA, 2006]). In a person with asthma, exposure to cigarette smoke can initiate and worsens asthma by irritating the airways to cause asthma symptoms (World Health Organization [WHO, 2010]). The impact of Asthma is not limited to those with the disease, but also affect their family members, friends, schools and businesses (WHO, 2010).

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Every day, 30,000 people have an asthma attack. But what is asthma? Asthma is a condition in which a person’s airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. For some people, asthma is minor, and it is just a nuisance. For others, it can be a major problem, that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack. Asthma can't be cured, but you can control it. If you know what triggers your asthma, you can simply stay away from those things. But when something triggers your asthma there are ways to control those symptoms. One way to cope with asthma is Long-term asthma control medications like Inhaled corticosteroids, Leukotriene

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by episodes in which the bronchioles constrict due to oversensitivity. In asthma, the airways (bronchioles) constrict making it difficult to get air in or out of the lungs. Breathlessness is the main symptom. The bronchi and bronchioles become inflamed and constricted. Asthmatics usually react to triggers. Triggers are substances and situations that would not normally trouble an asthma free person. Asthma is either extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic is when the inflammation in the airway is a result of hypersensitivity reactions associated with allergy (food or pollen). Intrinsic asthma is linked to hyper responsive reactions to other forms of

Even though physical activity has been found to be beneficial to asthmatics. Exercise-induced asthma have been prevalent in our society. As

Asthma is a disease that affects over 25 million people in the United States, including 7 million children. Asthma affects the lower airways and is characterized by bronchial hyperresponsiviness and decreased airflow. People suffer from asthma attacks, which cause the lungs to become swollen and inflamed thus making it difficult to breath. These attacks range in severity from mild, moderate or severe. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest pain. These symptoms can affect people on a daily basis or on occasion (Zanni, 2013).

My dad’s car broke down one day, and when I arrived to pick him up there was an individual speaking with him who eventually asked me, “So what is your major?” I explained I was in the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program at The Ohio State University, and I was hoping to pursue a PharmD to become a Pharmacist. He responded with a chuckle asking, “Why does a Pharmacist have to go to school for so long, simply to greet the customer, fill out their prescriptions, and send them along?” I did not know how to respond, seeing as I did not have the Pharmacy foundation I do now. His curiosity led me to explore all prospects the career can lead to.

Instead of being confined with asthma I would usually spend my days outside and fight. I told myself that asthmatics are stronger because we know what it feels like to not have air, to stare at the sky and wait for our air ducts to open, to be aware that we are still trying to grasp the slightest oxygen that would warm up our bodies. ‘I am an almighty god’ I chanted in my head. Even if there were medications, such as albuterol, I despised them because I believed that medications can internally destroy you. My rebellious mind discouraged supplements that ‘suppress’ my asthma symptoms. I did not believe that medications would permanently help a person; you would feel deteriorated the next day, creating a vicious cycle.

Asthma is a chronic obstructive inflammatory lung disease that can affect all age groups and is characterized by repeated episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath (SOB), chest tightness, and coughing due to the increased sensitivity of the airway smooth muscle to various stimuli, as well as a buildup of mucus from the mucosal layer.1 The smooth muscle layer and the mucosal layer make up the lumen of the airway. As of now, there is no cure for asthma, however individuals with asthma are fully capable of living a normal life by controlling the symptoms. Factors such as the environment, allergies, respiratory infection and genetics play a role in determining who has asthma and who does not. The narrowing of the airways in combination with the

An asthmatic patient is usually passages or air sensitive airways, causing breathing difficulties when the patient's airways are stimulated by an atmospheric change.