Asthma
Name
Institution
Asthma
Causes of Asthma
Asthma is a condition that affects breathing by inflaming the airways and reducing in size the lung’s inner side; thus, limiting air supply in the body. Asthma does not have an exact cause for its existence. However, several triggers result in asthma. Recently in some cases, it has been seen that epigenetic changes are responsible for asthma, showing that it can be inherited from family. A pregnant woman who smokes is likely to give birth to a child who may later develop asthma. Obese people also have a higher chance of getting asthma. People with allergic diseases may develop asthma as the allergen they are sensitive to becomes a trigger. Different people have different triggers. Its consistency is that it causes the same reaction to all people with asthma. The triggers usually include airborne pollutants, viruses, pet dander, mold, allergens, dust, pollen, and cigarette smoke. Emotion turmoil could also work as a trigger, such as stress and depression. Asthma can manifest at the childhood stage or even as an adult. However, adults are more likely to have persistent symptoms. Each type of asthma has something different that triggers either the onset of it or alleviates the condition. Occupations also play a role in acting as a trigger to people who may not know the condition’s existence or simply trigger the condition. In our case study, J.S. must have been exposed to one of his allergens, either dust or pollen, to trigger his asthma.
Symptoms of Asthma
The most frequent symptoms associated with asthma are wheezing and difficulty in breathing. Others include coughing at night, when laughing or during exercises, shortness of breath, anxiousness or even panic, fast breathing or breathing through the mouth, tightening of the chest and frequent respiratory infections. The difficulty in breathing is because the airways are inflamed, swollen and narrowed making air supply difficult in the body. J.S. shows the same symptoms with wheezing and the shortness of breath that he experienced. His use of the accessory muscles to breathe is proof that he’s having difficulty breathing and allowing air supply in his body. The symptoms vary determined by a patient’s type of asthma as well as not everyone with asthma will experience this very exact symptoms. Some people showcase mild symptoms that may last for a few days per week. To those with severe cases of asthma the symptoms may last almost daily causing disruption to one’s normal daily routine.
Management of Asthma
Asthma is mostly a manageable condition to those who have it. However effective treatment requires the patient to take an active role in managing the treatments. This starts by identifying one’s triggers and avoiding them to ensure there won’t be an asthma attack. Use of inhalers properly helps in emergency like situations. Also there are rescue inhalers treat the symptoms and controller inhalers prevent the symptoms. In case of a severe case of asthma a longer lasting inhaler is required to help keep the airway open. The use of long term medications such as oral steroids help keep asthma under control. These medications treat the airway inflammation and when used daily they can prevent asthma flare-ups (Horak, Doberer et.al., 2016). Monitoring the asthma itself so as to recognize when things aren’t good. The most encouraging type of treatment now is that which its objective is to focus on the patients through therapy and encouraging them (Chariot, Vachier et.al., 2016).
References
Chariot, J., Vachier, I., Halimi, L., Gamez, A.S., Boissin, C., Salama, M., &Bourdin, A. (2016). Future treatment for asthma. European Respiratory Review, 25(139), 77-92
Horak, F., Doberer, D., Eber, E., Horak, E., Pohl, W., Riedler, J., & Studnicka, M. (2016). Diagnosis and management of asthma- Statement on the 2015 GINA Guidelines. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, 128(15-16), 541-554