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Social Impact Of Asthma

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In a 1999 article in the New York Times, a reporter observed, “The rapid rise in asthma, in this country and in developed nations around the world, is one of the biggest mysteries in modern medicine.” Epidemiologic evidence suggests that she was not exaggerating. The number of Americans with asthma has increased by 28% since 2001 (“National Health Interview Survey”). The economic impact of asthma in inflation-adjusted dollars has grown from over $10 billion in 1990 to over $56 billion in 2007 (Barnett 148). Although the burden of this chronic pulmonary condition in the general population is high, poor housing conditions and proximity to environmental hazards disproportionately affect certain groups, making these populations more vulnerable …show more content…

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by inflamed airways within the lungs. In the disease, airways become swollen and very sensitive upon reaction to certain inhaled substances or physical exertion. When the airways react, the muscles tighten around them. This narrows the airways, reducing airflow into the lungs (”What is Asthma?”) During these events, there is often a feeling of tightness and a wheezy or rattling sound in the chest. Asthma symptoms vary in severity from occasional spells of breathlessness to daily wheezing that persists despite treatment. Symptoms include severe cough, abnormal breathing pattern, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest pain. In emergency situations, symptoms may also include rapid pulse, sweating, fatigue, decreased alertness and a bluish color to the lips and face (“Asthma Attack”). An acute asthma exacerbation is commonly referred to as an asthma attack (“What is Asthma?”). Patients liken asthma attacks to suffocating. Action Against Asthma, a report by the US Department of Health and Human Services, featured a graphic description of the …show more content…

If asthma is suspected as a possible disease, doctors will perform a physical examination, paying close attention to the eyes, ear, nose, throat, skin, chest and lungs. A doctor may also perform a pulmonary function test using a peak airflow meter or spirometry to detect how well an individual exhales air from their lungs. Other means of diagnosis include an X-ray of the lungs or sinuses, a trigger test, or an allergy test (“How Is Asthma

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