Determining the Underlying Causes of Asthma Essay

Asthma itself is an inflammatory disease characterized by increased airway responsiveness due to a variety of stimulus. The inflammation causes the hyper-responsiveness than in turn causes bronchiolar smooth muscle constriction, resulting in obstruction of airflow. Some

Avoiding and controlling asthma triggers is important in every phase of the intervention process in order to manage the disease. However, many times because of lack of awareness and education, asthma

Based on Ignatavicius and Workman, asthma is usually a chronic condition that causes obstruction. The pathophysiology behind asthma, is the hypersensitivity of the tissue in the lungs. When a trigger comes in to the lungs, the airway overreacts to it, and causes excessive swelling and mucous productions, which constrict the airway and makes it difficult for the individual to breath (2016). There are different types of trigger that can initiate an asthma attacks, and it also varies per individuals. Some of the triggers are allergens, dust mites, outdoor air

The sign and symptoms of an asthma attack include coughing that worsens at night or early in the morning, shortness of breath, chest tightness or wheezing sounds that occurs when breathing. Some symptoms go away without no treatment. However, severe asthma attacks require immediate emergency care. There is no cure for asthma because the disease will always be present. Even if an individual feels well, there’s always the possibility of something triggering an Asthma attack.

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

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways that makes breathing difficult. With asthma, there is inflammation of the air passages that results in a temporary narrowing of the airways that carry oxygen to the lungs. When this inflammation occurs, the asthma symptoms start to show, such as, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Even though there are many treatments for asthma symptoms, it is still a very serious disease that affects more than 22 million Americans and brings nearly 2 million E.R. visits per year. Asthma can be lived with very well as long as proper treatment measures are taken (Wrongdiagnosis).

I. Introduction: Looking at Asthma and breaking it down to fully understand the chronic disease.

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 affects people of all ages, but it most often starts during childhood. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways, which are tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs allowing one to take in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. The swelling also can worsen, making the airways even narrower and the ability to breathe more difficult. Sometimes asthma symptoms are mild and go away on their own or after minimal treatment with asthma medicine, but other times symptoms continue to get worse. When symptoms get more intense and more symptoms occur, you 're having what is commonly known as an asthma attack. During an asthma attack you are in complete panic and the swelling in your airways reaches a point where it is no possible to take air into the lungs. If action is not taken to reduce the swelling of the airways in order to restore breathing, someone could die of asphyxiation, or the lack of oxygen. The number of people being diagnosed with asthma is on the rise, especially in the rates of children developing symptoms of asthma at a young age.

As the world population grows, so does the amount of people in this world with Asthma. “In the last decade, the proportion of people with Asthma in the USA grew nearly 15%, with 479,300 hospitalizations and 1.9 million emergency department visits in 2009 alone”(Kaur, Bani Preet). Asthma affects the bronchi, bringing of air into and out of the lungs. When an Asthma attack happens, the airways or passages to the lungs, swell up and close so the air passing through is very minimal, causing air not to be able to reach the lungs and pain to the person. In most cases it is not deadly unless not handled properly. This disease causes it to be harder to stay active than it is for others. It is easily manageable if properly diagnosed and properly treated. “4 million americans under 18 have Asthma” (Bronson). It is mistaken in young children for their crying and hiccuping is mistaken for Asthma. Especially when they are sick since they are unable to speak. Asthma is a painful

Asthma is a chronic long term lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma causes periods of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and coughing. Coughing usually occurs at night or early morning, can occur during the day if allergies flares your asthma. The airways are tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs. People who are diagnosed with asthma have inflamed airways, inflammation makes the airways swollen and very sensitive. The airways react strongly to certain inhaled substances, when the airways react the muscles around them tighten. This causes the airways to narrow and less air is able to flow into the lungs. When the swelling becomes worse the airways become even narrower. The cells in the airways then make more mucus than usual. Mucus is a sticky thick liquid that can narrow the airways even more. This is a chain reaction that can result in asthma symptoms. The symptoms of asthma can happen each time the airways are inflamed. The symptoms can be mild and go away on their own, or after minimal treatment with asthma medication. If the symptoms get worse or more intense and get worse you are having an asthma attack. Asthma attacks are also called flare ups or exacerbations.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder in which inflammatory airway contraction reduces the flow of air into the lungs. The inflammation

• In adults, women have higher asthma mortality rates than men, in children; male have higher rates than female (Wilson,

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