2010, p. 176). Oxygen is inhaled into the blood stream and into the tissues. Carbon dioxide is exhaled out. When complications occur within the respiratory system, it can range from the simplest thing like a cold or as complex as developing a chronic disease like asthma. “Smoking is the number one risk behavior for developing chronic respiratory disease” (Neighbors & Tannehill-Johnson, 2010, p. 177). There are an array of symptoms including difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, nasal discharge and chest pain. Respiratory diseases can affect the upper or lower part of the respiratory system for instance, sinuses to an infiltration of the lungs. Respiratory diseases can be acute and develop into chronic disorders.
Asthma is a chronic disease involving the respiratory system airways.
The muscle become tighten and restricts the airway which makes it difficult for one to breathe. An asthmatic individual may experience coughing, chest tightness, wheezing and dyspnea. Doctors diagnose asthma by a lung function test and medical assessment which includes history, symptoms and physical exam. According to “Center for Disease Control and Prevention” (2014), “An asthma attack can happen when you are exposed to “asthma triggers” (Learn How to Control Asthma). “The most common triggers are tobacco smoke, dust mites, outdoor mites, outdoor pollution, cockroach allergen, pets, mold and smoke from burning wood or grass” (“Center For Disease Control and Prevention”, 2014). Asthma can be treated and managed by identifying triggers, avoiding triggers and complying with daily medication. Asthma can be classified as secondary and tertiary. Tertiary prevention can be established by avoiding triggers and using medication. Secondary prevention can be established by focusing on interventions to prevent further complications by educating patient on compliance of medications and triggers to …show more content…
avoid.
According to “Center for Disease Control and Prevention” (2014), “Asthma has affect 300 million individuals worldwide.
In the United States about 25 million people have asthma- one out of every 12 people” (Asthma Facts). There is not one specific group of individuals asthma affects. Asthma affects infants, school age children, middle age adults and seniors. According to “Center for Disease Control and Prevention” (2014), “It’s more common in children than adults” (Asthma Facts). Children miss excessive amount of school due to this disease. This can be challenging for the child and as well as parents. Asthma has an enormous financial burden. The cost in the U.S is over $50 billion per year in health care expenses, missed school and work days, and early death. The National Asthma Education and Prevention of the National Institute of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute issued guidelines to manage asthma. According to "Center For Disease Control And Prevention" (2014), “These guidelines translated advances in scientific and clinical research into practical advice for people with asthma , for health care providers who look after them, and for the communities where they live” (Asthma Facts). The guidelines basically educate and promote the health care providers and individuals with asthma how to manage this chronic disease. The goal would be to decrease deaths, hospitalization, cost and loss in productivity. Prevention and management of asthma is
essential in decreasing the burden.
References
Center for disease control and prevention. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/faqs.htm
Center for disease control and prevention. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/pdfs/breathing_easier_brochure.pdf
Neighbors, M., & Tannehill-Johnson, R. (2010). Human diseases (3rd ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Delmar.