Informative Speech About Asthma
Morgan Patton
I. INTRODUCTION A. Attention Device
1) “According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 9 people a day die from asthma (AAFA).” B. Orienting Material 1) Most people think of asthma as just a problem with breathing, but it is more complex than that. 2) Asthma can alter the life of a person but with proper treatment, asthmatic people can live full normal lives. C. Preview 1) Today I am going to talk about what asthma is, what causes it, and how it can be prevented and treated. (Transition: Let me give you a better understanding of asthma.) II. BODY A. Asthma 1) Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. 2) Asthma causes recurring periods of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. 3) People with asthma have inflamed airways. 4) Asthma affects people of all ages but it most often starts during childhood. (Transition: To understand asthma, it might help to know how the airways work.) B. Causes 1) The airways are tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs. 2) Inflamed airways can be sensitive and swollen, having a tendency to react strongly to certain inhaled substances. 3) When airways react muscles around them contract, narrowing the airways causing less air flow into the lungs. 4) Cells in the airways can make mucus than can further narrow the airways. 5) In the book, you can control your asthma, the author states “outdoor pollution, cockroach allergies, pets, and mold are contributors in causing asthma (Chen).” (Transition: Treating symptoms when you first notice them is important.) C. Prevention and Treatment 1) Asthma has no cure, even when feeling fine it can flare up. 2) Simply changing your diet can help prevent and even treat asthma. 3) Not smoking cigarettes will also help prevent asthma. 4)
I. INTRODUCTION A. Attention Device
1) “According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 9 people a day die from asthma (AAFA).” B. Orienting Material 1) Most people think of asthma as just a problem with breathing, but it is more complex than that. 2) Asthma can alter the life of a person but with proper treatment, asthmatic people can live full normal lives. C. Preview 1) Today I am going to talk about what asthma is, what causes it, and how it can be prevented and treated. (Transition: Let me give you a better understanding of asthma.) II. BODY A. Asthma 1) Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. 2) Asthma causes recurring periods of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. 3) People with asthma have inflamed airways. 4) Asthma affects people of all ages but it most often starts during childhood. (Transition: To understand asthma, it might help to know how the airways work.) B. Causes 1) The airways are tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs. 2) Inflamed airways can be sensitive and swollen, having a tendency to react strongly to certain inhaled substances. 3) When airways react muscles around them contract, narrowing the airways causing less air flow into the lungs. 4) Cells in the airways can make mucus than can further narrow the airways. 5) In the book, you can control your asthma, the author states “outdoor pollution, cockroach allergies, pets, and mold are contributors in causing asthma (Chen).” (Transition: Treating symptoms when you first notice them is important.) C. Prevention and Treatment 1) Asthma has no cure, even when feeling fine it can flare up. 2) Simply changing your diet can help prevent and even treat asthma. 3) Not smoking cigarettes will also help prevent asthma. 4)
Cited: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. AAFA, April 2010. Web. June 19, 2013. Chen, Zhi-Hua. You can control your asthma. Hua-Hao Shen. May 2012. Print. Weisspapir, Raisa. “Homeopathic Medicine: Prevention and treatment of Childhood Asthma.” New York Times. April 2012. Print.