This document provides an overview of asthma, including its definition, symptoms, causes, risk factors, and management. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by narrowing of the airways. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, and are triggered by factors such as allergens, infections, exercise, and air pollution. While it has no cure, asthma symptoms can be controlled through medication like inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene modifiers, environmental management, monitoring with peak flow meters, and treatment of underlying allergies. Proper treatment allows those with asthma to maintain an active lifestyle with minimal symptoms.
4. Symptoms:
wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of
breath.
Symptoms that interfere with sleep, work or
recreational activities
Asthma symptoms range from minor to severe and
vary from person to person.
Comes primarily at night, during exercise or when the
patient exposed to specific triggers.
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5. Asthma can't be cured, but its symptoms can
be controlled.
some people get asthma and others don't, but
it's probably due to a combination of
environmental and genetic (inherited) factors.
Asthma triggers are different from person to
person.
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6. Causes:
Airborne allergens, such as pollen, animal dander,
mold, cockroaches and dust mites.
Respiratory infections, such as the common cold
Physical activity (exercise-induced asthma)
Air pollutants and irritants, such as smoke
Strong emotions and stress
Allergic reactions to some foods, such as peanuts or
shellfish
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in
which stomach acids back up into your throat
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7. Risk factors:
A growing number of people are diagnosed with the
condition each year, but it isn't clear why.
A number of factors are thought to increase your chances
of developing asthma. These include:
Having a blood relative (such as a parent or sibling) with
asthma
Having an allergic condition, such as atopic dermatitis or
allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
Being overweight
Being a smoker
Having a mother who smoked while pregnant
Low birth weight
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9. Management:
What you can do Before going to the doctor ?
Write down any symptoms you're having
Note when your symptoms bother you most
Write down key personal information
Make a list of all medications
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10. Management:
Peak flow. A peak flow meter is a simple
device that measures how hard you can
breathe out.
Take a deep
breath and
exhale through
the device
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11. Asthma classification %FEV1Peak flow Signs and symptoms
Mild intermittent 80%
Mild symptoms up to two
days a week and up to two
nights a month
Mild persistent 80%
Symptoms more than twice
a week, but no more than
once in a single day
Moderate persistent 6080%
Symptoms once a day and
more than one night a week
Severe persistent <60%
Symptoms throughout the
day on most days and
frequently at night
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12. Medications: moderate dose inhaler
-up right position
-shake the inhaler
-slightly tilt the
head back
-slowly inhale as u
press
-continue breathing
for 5 s
-if 2 puffs wait for 1
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13. Medications:
Quick-relief medications
Quick-relief (rescue) medications are used as
needed for rapid, short-term symptom relief
during an asthma attack.
Short-acting beta agonists Ventolin
Oral and intravenous corticosteroids. These
medications relieve airway inflammation
caused by severe asthma. Can cause serious
side effects when used long term
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14. Long-term control medications
In most cases, these medications need to be taken
every day
Inhaled corticosteroids (Aerobid), safe .
Leukotriene modifiers help prevent asthma symptoms
for up to 24 hours
Long-acting beta agonists (LABAs). open the airways
and reduce inflammation
Combination inhalers (Advair Diskus) contain a LABA
along with a corticosteroid.
Theophylline This is a daily pill that helps keep the
airways open
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15. Treatment for allergy-induced asthma
Lifestyle:
Avoid your triggers
Stay healthy
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16. Having asthma doesn't mean you have to be
less active. Treatment can prevent asthma
attacks and control symptoms during activity.
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