Paper Sample on Asthma

Affected persons feel like they breathe through a straw. Others may have a feel of squeaking sound which results from the difficulties air experiences as it moves through the narrowed airways. Also, patients may experience a cough especially during the night or in the early morning. Other symptoms may manifest themselves in chest pain, chest pressure, or clogging of the chest (American Thoracic Society, 2013). Degeneration of the mentioned signs and symptoms may lead to an asthma attack.'

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During an asthma attack, patients may breathe so fast that they may experience extreme difficulties in talking. When the attack happens, coughing and chest tightness may cause anxiety or panic (Bullock & Hales, 2013). As a result, shortness of breath may occur. Additionally, affected persons may record low levels of oxygen in the blood, making their lips and fingertips to turn gray (American Thoracic Society, 2013).

Medical Interventions

Treatment often entails taking or receiving injections of drugs that relax airways muscles as well as keep them open(CDC,2016). This approach enables smooth movement of air in and out of the body. According to the American Thoracic Society (2013), long-acting medication such as inhaled corticosteroids can be very effective when used alongside long-acting bronchodilators.

Lifestyle management can also be an effective approach to the management of asthma. Olivieri, Barnes and Hurd (2013), document that lifestyle management enables patients to avoid the stimuli that trigger the inflammation of the airways. Once patients know what triggers the hypersensitive responses, they can stay away from them. Similarly, staying healthy by consuming nutritious foods and avoiding persons who smoke as well as those that have cold or flu can limit the chances of having an infection. Moreover, exercising and proper management of stress improves one's well-being and reduces chances of developing asthma or experiencing asthma attacks.

Conclusion

Asthma is a common respiratory disease. Proper treatment can make affected persons live normal lives. Administration of drugs and management of lifestyle are the major approaches to the management of asthma. The lack of cure provides an opportunity for future research and clinical investigations.

References

American Thoracic Society. (2013). What is Asthma? Retrieved from https://www.thoracic.org

Bullock, S., & Hales, M. (2012). Principles of pathophysiology. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W: Pearson Australia.

Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. (2016). Asthma. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/

Environmental Protection Agency. (2015). Asthma Facts. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/asthma_fact_sheet_eng_july_30_2015

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. (2007). Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/

Olivieri, D., Barnes, P. J., & Hurd, S. S. (2013). Asthma treatment: A multidisciplinary approach. New York: Plenum Press.