Asthma Attack The Muscles Around The Airways example essay topic

Asthma is a Greek word, which means panting. It was one of the words to describe shortness of breath. The descriptions of asthma came from Aretaeus the Cappadocian in the 2nd century AD. The lungs suffer and the parts which assist respiration sympathize with them (Lane 1996). Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease characterized by recurrent breathing problems.

People who have asthma have acute episodes when the air passages in their lungs get narrower, and breathing becomes more difficult. This narrowing can be due to mucus in the airway, to swelling of the lining of the airway, or to a spasm in the walls of the airway. The bronchial tubes are hypersensitive. When they are temporarily blocked by mucus, breathing becomes difficult.

During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways tighten, the linings of the airways become inflamed and the glands produce an overabundance of think mucus. This further narrowing the airway passages. Any asthmatic will have difficulty breathing, especially when exhaling carbon dioxide. The lips will turn blue and the chest will become over inflated with depressed rib spaces. The asthmatics pulse becomes higher than normal. During an asthma attack the muscles around the airways tighten, the linings of the airways become inflamed and swollen.

The glands produce an overabundance of thick mucus, further narrowing the airway passages. This indicates that the body has less oxygen available and that the carbon dioxide has built up to dangerous levels. Once a person's asthma attack is triggered by some type of substance or condition, the airways in the lungs become sensitive to other triggers that result in chronic asthma (Cutler 1998). Between episodes of bronchial asthma, a person may appear completely normal (Adams 1995). Symptoms could last from anywhere to days, weeks, to months.

There are many lung and heart disorders that may have similar symptoms. A doctor has to make an accurate diagnosis of the nature of the disease. The doctor takes a complete history of the patient, physical examination, necessary lab tests, and x-rays. Attacks of bronchial asthma will occur more frequently if not treated properly. Wheezy bronchitis or bronchial asthma occurs when the bronchial tubes overreact. An episode begins when a person's airways are irritated by certain factors.

These factors are called asthma triggers. Some triggers are excessive dust, sharp odors, mold, smoking, animal dander, chemicals, air pollution, stress, and even cockroaches. The cockroach allergen is not simply the insect but the proteins found in roach saliva, feces, and remains. Children in inner cities have a higher level of asthma. (Leary 1997).

Infectants often act as triggers and usually are the roots of a severe asthmatic attack. Allergens such as food, environmental factors, inhalants, can link up with infectants. This can result in chronic infections that act as triggers for asthmatics. An example of this would be if someone is allergic to chocolate and also has a bacterial allergy then the combination of the two could trigger an episode. Asthma is a respiratory condition that affects more than thirteen million Americans and is one of the leading causes of school and work absences. The number of asthma cases increased by more than 72% between 1982 and 1994.

Asthma causes approximately 10.1 million days of missed school annually in the United States. Asthma could appear in early childhood or later on as an adult. Despite the various drugs available to treat this condition, the number of deaths have increased (Cutler 1998). Bronchial asthma occurs in not only in the underprivileged but also to the wealthy as well. Age is not a barrier when it comes to asthma. It can occur in an infant as well as an elderly person (Adams 1995).

Deaths usually occur more frequently in adults (Cutler 1998). Some of the symptoms and signs of an asthmatic attack would include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and mucus production. They also might feel tightness or pain in the chest, and they will have little energy for active play. Some signs that show a child might have asthma may include: high-pitched whistling wheeze at night, retracting respirations, prolonged exhalation, shortness of breath (Lane 1996). There are many different types of asthma.

There is exercise-induced asthma, pollen asthma, chronic asthma, bronchial infections, allergy induced, adult asthma, environmental asthma, and occupational asthma. Exercise- induced asthma can affect 70-90 percent of asthmatic patients. During exercise the airways widen. In a normal person the airways quickly return to their normal state. In an asthmatic person the airways sharply decline. It becomes very narrow about five minutes after the exercise is over.

It could take about an hour for the lungs to return to their original state. Running is the best way to test for someone who might have this type of asthma. An asthmatic will become wheezy after this activity. Bicycling is not so bad since it doesn t put as much stress on the lungs (Lane 1996). Exercising induced-asthma has several agents that seem to be effected and are easily adapted for children and adults. The B 2-adrenergic agonists are effected in preventing exercised induced asthma.

This should be given to the asthma individual at least ten to fifteen before the activity. This medication will help block the attack. If given a B 2- agonists such as salmeterol, it should be given 30-40 minutes before exercise. Cromolyn sodium and nedocromil sodium are also used to prevent exercised-induced asthma.

Theophylline is another medication used to prevent exercised induced asthma. It is not as effective but it can be used as maintenance therapy to help prevent late reactions in asthma. If your asthma is unstable then the asthmatic should avoid exercise. It is also suggested that warm-up exercises are implemented prior to the activity. Exercise in extreme cold should be avoided at all times. A face mask is suggested when exercising in cold weather.

All outdoor exercise activities should be avoided if the ozone levels are too high (Adams 1995). Pollen asthma varies throughout the year. Some people are only allergic to early spring pollens like trees, or grass pollens that strike in late spring and early summer. In late summer, the weed pollens cause asthmatic flare-ups. Depending upon where you live in the United States, will determine the type of pollens that are present year-round.

For an example, ragweed is at its highest levels on the East Coast where we live from mid August to late October. Ragweed releases pollen at its highest levels in the early morning. It has been estimated that up to 75% of seasonal hay fever is caused by ragweed (Cutler 1998). There are various treatments that are available today for asthmatics. First you need to take charge of your asthma by seeing your physician. First, you will need to take a skin test to see if you are allergic to see if you are allergic to different things.

Allergy shots should not be given unless the person already had attempted an avoidance of the allergen (AOL 1996). A metered-dosed inhalers (Mdi) are just as effective and more economical than using a wet nebulizer. A spacer device can be used with an MDI to ensure that the person is getting the right medication. An MDI is usually worthless without the use of a spacer device. Some patients either take too little or too much of the prescribed number of puffs. The spacer device enables the person to inhale more of the drug into their lungs (AOL 1997).

A nebulizer is used for severely asthmatic patients. The inflow and outflow of their breath is so small that they cannot use a pressurized aerosol. His bronchi are blocked with so much mucus that very little air and medicine can get in. A nebulizer used with a special solution of one or other broncho dilating drugs like salbutamol creates a fine mist in which the drug can be suspended in very small particles.

The person places a mask over their face to get a treatment. This treatment is invaluable to a person with a severe asthma attack (Lane 1996). A peak flow meter is a simple machine that is used to measure the maximum speed at which your lungs can blow out air. Be sure to check your peak flow 2 to 3 times daily, breathing into it three times in the morning and 10 to 20 mins after taking your bronchodilator, such as albuterol, ventolin. Do not do this test when your breathing is labored. Then record down your highest peak flow and label it on a graph.

Within three weeks, bring your graph to your physician this way he / she will be able to give you the best type of medication. The primary purpose of a peak flow meter is to find out what is the asthmatics personal best peak expiratory flow number (PEF). The PEF is an asthmatics highest number when he is in the best of health (AOL 1996). Another type of test, is called a spirometry pulmonary function test (PAT). This measures air flow characteristics (air speed and volume). The individual can breathe passively or forcefully through a tube connected to a calibrated measured instrument.

This test can indicate whether or not a person has a restricted or obstructed lung disease. A restrictive lung disease process is something that basically causes a reduction in lung volume and expansion. On the other hand, obstructive disease process causes a reduction in lung airflow. People that do not smoke have asthma or bronchitis should be able to blow out at least 75 to 80% or more of their air within the first second of a forced exhalation. If its less than 70 to 80% than it is an indication of an obstructive lung pattern or disease.

This test is usually performed before or after taking a bronchodilator treatment (AOL 1997). A different type of pulmonary function test is called a flow volume loop. This test shows that two-dimensional tracing of both inspiratory and expiratory flow and volume plotted on a grid (AOL 1997). Anti-flammatory medications can help reduce or prevent swelling and irritation in your bronchial tubes. By using these medications, it will help you control your asthma. Research states that inflamed airways or bronchial tubes plays a major role in causing wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing.

Two types of anti-inflammatory medications that your doctor may prescribe: steroid inhalers, or non-steroid inhalers. Recent research suggests that the steroid inhalers provide the best long-term treatment without serious side effects. With more serious cases the doctor may also prescribed an anti-inflammatory medication in pill form. These pills must be taken even if you no longer have asthma symptoms.

In addition, bronchodilator are medications that are used to open up the bronchial tubes. These medications are important to help you with your asthma attacks. They cannot be used more than three times a day. If you need it more than is another device that has be three times, then contact your physician (AOL 1998).

Asthma medications are always improving. There are always new medications being investigated. The next generation of asthma medications will likely provide more relief with fewer puffs of medication. Increased environmental controls over outdoor and indoor air pollution will also improve the quality of life for patients with bronchial asthma. Having restaurants with no smoking has definitely help improve the quality of indoor air for people.

Air purifiers have recently been used in the homes of allergic patients. The Envircaire HEPA air cleaners en invented to improve the environment for patients with asthma. A study was done using this air cleaner and patients had fewer symptoms and needed less medicine (Adams 1995). Asthma is a chronic lung condition that affects a person's airways. It is caused by environmental and genetic factors. Each year better treatments are available for asthmatics.

A person can live a normal life with the proper treatment and some environmental changes. Hopefully one day, there will be a cure for asthma.