Asthma:
Asthma is a clinical syndrome of chronic airway inflammation characterized by recurrent reversible airway obstruction. airway inflammation also leads to airway hyperreactivity which causes airways to narrow in response to various stimuli.
 |
| Asthma |
who is at risk to develop asthma?
asthma is a common chronic condition affecting 68 per thousand individuals in most recent asthma surveys,
asthma remains a leading cause of missed workdays.
it responsible for 1.5 million emergency department visits annually and up to 500,000 hospitalizations.
over 3300 Americans die annually from asthma.
furthermore, as is the case with other allergic conditions such as eczema (atopic dermatitis), hay fever (allergic rhinitis), and food allergies, the prevalence of asthma appears to be on the rise.
symptoms:
1. the classic signs and symptoms of asthma are shortness of breath cough (often worse at night) and wheezing (high-pitched whistling sound produced by turbulent airflow through narrow airways, typically with exhalation).
many patients also report chest tightness.
it is important to note that these symptoms are episodic, and individuals with asthma can go long periods without any symp[toms
common triggers for asthmatic patients exposure to allergens(pets, dust mites, cockroach, molds, and pollens), exercises, and viral infections. other triggers include strong emotional odor exposure and temperature extremes. tobacco use or exposure to secondhand smoke complicates asthma management.
2. many of the symptoms and signs of asthma are nonspecific and can be seen in other conditions as well.
symptoms that might suggest conditions other than asthma include new symptoms onset
in older age the presence of associated symptoms(such as chest discomfort, lightheadedness palpitations, and fatigue) and lack of response to appropriate medications for asthma.
3. the physical exam in asthma is often completely normal.
occasionally wheezing is present. in an asthma exacerbation, the respiratory rate increases the heart rate increases, and the work of respiration increases
individuals often require accessory muscles to breathe, and breath sounds can be diminished. it is important to note that the blood oxygen level typically remains fairly normal even in the midst of a significant asthma exacerbation.
low blood oxygen level is therefore concerning for impending respiratory failure.
causes:
asthma results from complex interactions between an individual's inherited genetic makeup and interactions with the environment.
the factors that cause genetically predisposed individuals to become asthmatic are poorly understood. the following are risk factors for asthma:
⦁ family history allergic condition
⦁ personal history of hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
⦁ viral respiratory illness such as a respiratory syncytial virus(RSV), during childhood
⦁ exposure to cigarette smoke
⦁ obesity
⦁ lower socioeconomic status
⦁ exposure to air pollution or burning biomass
treatment;
with the increasing prevalence of asthma, numerous studies have looked for risk factors and ways to potentially prevent asthma.
it has been shown that individuals living on farms are protected against wheezing asthma and even environmental allergies. the role of air pollution has been questioned in both the increased incidence of asthma and in regards to asthma exacerbations.
climate change is also being studied as a factor in the increased incidence of asthma. maternal smoking during pregnancy is a risk factor for asthma and poor outcomes.
tobacco smoke is also a significant risk factor for the development and progression of asthma. treatment of environmental allergies with;; allergen immunotherapy,
or allergy shots have been shown to decreases a child's risk of developing asthma. the development of asthma is ultimately a complex process influenced by many environmental and genetic factors and currently,
there is no proven way to decrease an individuals risk of developing asthma
the treatment goals for asthma are to;
adequately control symptoms minimize the risk of future exacerbations, maintain normal lung function, maintain normal activity levels, and take the least amount of medication possible with the least amount of potential side effects.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon