Prevalence of Asthma among Physically Inactive Adolescents - Research Paper Example

? Identifying a Researchable Problem of Prevalence of Asthma among Physically Inactive Adolescents PART 2 Various academic literatures have researched on asthma and its prevalence, and one of the concepts is the prevalence of asthma among physically inactive adolescents. One such study is that by Daniels et al. Conducted in 2005, the study sought to establish the issue of being overweight in children and adolescent by discussing the patho-physiology, consequences, prevention and treatment measures. This study is based on the concept that some health conditions result because of others. Asthma has been implicated in overweight and physically inert young people. In their study, Daniel et al mention that in instances of reduced mobility, there is more prevalence of asthma. With asthma also, there is decreased physical activity which accentuates the condition. In another study by Ten Hacken (2009), physical inactivity and obesity have been compared so as to identify the correlation between the two. The researchers are guided by the principle that physical inactivity and obesity are risk factors for many chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, depression and diabetes mellitus. The researchers explain that in inactivity and obesity, there is systemic inflammation that leads to various inflammatory processes of many chronic conditions. Asthma is a chronic airway disease characterized by enhanced bronchial inflammation and hyperactivity, mucosal edema and airway narrowing. Asthma being a chronic condition, therefore, fits the bill of the inclusion criteria. Despite this argument, the study is not quite clear on asthma as it uses postulations and inferences. Even the researchers themselves admit that complex studies will be needed to clearly show the correlation between physical inactivity and asthma. Study by Strine, Balluz and Ford (2007) discusses the link between smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and the severity of asthma in the US population. The study findings established that there is strong association between these variables; therefore, showing that physical inactivity, smoking and obesity are related to asthma attacks. However, the findings depend on various factors making it difficult to establish whether there is a direct correlation between asthma and reduced activity. Smoking is a trigger for acute asthma attacks while obesity does not necessarily imply that one has reduced activity. However, there was some strength of association between inactivity and asthma in the sense that, of the study participants, those who used inhalers had an 80% likelihood of being physically inactive. Another study by Hallal et al seeks to identify the strength of association between physical activity in adolescents and their health status. The research is based on the principle that physical inactivity among the young people reduces the incidence of chronic diseases. The study was conducted between 2000 and 2004. The findings were that physical activity has long-term benefits o various conditions in the body including bone condition, breast cancer, asthma and sedentary behavior. Concerning asthma, the researchers established that water activities have shown efficacy in controlling and fighting asthma. The ways in which physical activity treats asthma is not very clear, but from various studies reviewed, there is a close association between physical activity and asthma. What is, however, not clear is the mechanism by which this happens. PART 3 Research Questions: Using PICO Model The study shall be conducted based on the guidance from the following research questions: 1. To what extent can asthmatic conditions be attributed to lifestyle? 2. Are adolescents who are less active physically likely to have health complications than their active counterparts? 3. What is the connection between patient diagnosed with asthma and physical mobility? 4. Can increased physical activity reduce the chances of asthmatic attack? 5. Do asthmatic adolescent who are engaged in physical activity show more progress towards recovery from asthmatic attacks? From the research questions, the study shall be conducted under the following hypotheses 1. Asthmatic condition in adolescents are majorly attributed to lifestyles 2. Adolescents who are less active physically are likely to have health complications than their active counterparts 3. Many patients diagnosed with asthma are usually physically inactive 4. Improved physical activity reduces the chances of frequent asthmatic attacks 5. Asthmatic adolescent who are engaged in physical activity are more likely to show more progress towards recovery from asthmatic attacks than those who are passive? These research questions implicate physical inactivity and asthma development and non remission; hence they are significant in nursing practice. Asthma is a condition that requires continuous management by the healthcare providers, therefore, understanding that physical inactivity is directly associated with asthma would help nurses on the way that they manage young patients or how they advice them upon discharge. The articles above are ion tandem in terms of their agreement on the subject matter. From their studies, all the researchers identified that there is a direct association between physical activity and asthma. However, the emphasis is not on asthma alone, but chronic conditions. Chronic conditions are associated with continuous inflammation around the body, and this is accentuated in physical inactivity since the inflammation is increased. However, what all the articles agree is that obesity and inactivity are interchangeable and dependant terms. With obesity, there is reduced physical activity which is related to increased asthma prevalence. The mechanism is, however, not clear. There has not been a direct mention of asthma attacks and physical inactivity, but simply what the researchers all agree is that physical activity in young people boosts their heath and immune status. Lack of this activity becomes the reverse, therefore. For instance, Study by Strine, Balluz and Ford (2007) asserts that there is a direct link between asthma and obesity, smoking and physical inactivity. As outlined above, research by Ten Hacken (2009) also is in tandem with universal agreement that asthma is directly related to chronic conditions. Asthma has been mentioned but the author mentions that thorough studies will be conducted to assess the direct correlation between these two concepts. Understanding that physical inactivity is a risk factor for various systemic conditions helps parents, patients and health care providers in managing the condition. By encouraging young people to engage in physical activity, it means that conditions like obesity are controlled, and since obesity leads to many chronic conditions, such individuals are protected from chrpnic conditions. Failure to stick to these guidelines will increase the prevalence of chronic conditions in society, of which asthma is a part. Parents, therefore, must stick to strict exercise regimes for their overweight or obese children otherwise disease risk is amplified. Allowing the prevalence of chronic conditions in young people to shoot up leads to increased morbidity and mortality. It is important to communicate to colleagues about these findings as it would reduce the incidences of chronic conditions in children and adolescents. Communication on the findings will be made through online medical sites and organizing medical education workshops where the issues will be discussed in detail. I may get opposition when trying to implement the findings, but in order to surmount all this; I will be as convincing as possible in my findings, through the use of multiple citations and providing the links of the evidence to the colleagues. I will also urge my colleagues to contribute to the body of knowledge form of discussion. This will ensure that any contradictions in the studies are corrected and articulated in the right perspective. Having done this, I will proceed with implementing the changes. References Daniels et al. (2005). Overweight in children and adolescents. Pathophysiology, consequences, prevention, and treatment. Circulation, 111, 1999–2012. Halla et al. (2006). Adolescent Physical Activity and Health. Sports Med , 1019-1030. Hacken, T. (2006). Physical inactivity and obesity: relation to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? PubMed , 663-667. Strine, B. a. (2007). The associations between smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and asthma severity in the general US population. PubMed , 651-658. Read More