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Essay about What is Asthma and How Is It Treated?

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Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that cause airway hyper responsiveness, mucosa edema, and mucous production. The inflammation often leads to recurrent episodes of symptoms such as cough, chest tightness, wheezing and shortness of breath” (Brunner & Surddaths). Asthma episodes vary from mild to severe and can be provoked by various factors like allergens which can originate from pollens, grass, eggs, peanuts and chocolates. Or other factors like infections, environmental contaminants/toxins, exercise induced and exciting circumstances. Treatment of asthma starts with identification and avoidance of the recognized triggers. Inhalation or vaccination of bronchodilating drugs can help improve a mild asthmatic episode …show more content…

Nursing intervention: Review breathing training/techniques, effective coughing process and conditioning exercise with the patient. Rationale: Pursed-lip and abdominal breathing exercise toughens respiratory muscle, reduces risk of collapsed airways, and reduces the episodes of shortness of breath.
Intervention: Discuss the importance of health check and when to report necessary health changes to the physician(healthcare provider). Rationale: Monitoring the disease process gives the opportunity for modification of plan of care, to meet changing needs and help prevent complications.
Intervention: Review oxygen handling requirements and dosages with the patients on supplemental oxygen and discuss safe use of oxygen as indicated by the supplier. Rationale: Knowing the oxygen requirement and dosages reduces the risk of misuse and consequential complications; it also promotes environmental and physical safety.
Intervention: Demonstrate correct technique of how to use a metered dose inhaler (MDI) with spacer such as removing the cap from both the spacer and the inhaler, the sitting position, how to hold it, the breathing techniques and oral hygiene after the administration of MDI. Ask the patient to do a return demonstration of the MDI usage and to verbalize its potential adverse effects. Rationale: proper

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