Personal Nursing Interest on Asthma - Research Paper Example

Personal Research Interest on Asthma Reversible obstruction of the airways due to chronic inflammation and bronchial hyper-reactivity is known as asthma. Asthma is a common respiratory condition that affects people of all ages and sexes irrespective of region and race. This condition affects about 300 million people in the world including children (Sharma and Gupta, 2009). It constitutes of approximately 2 percent of all emergency department visits (Brenner, 2009). If left unattended and in the presence of severe symptoms, asthma can contribute to morbidity and mortality.

Asthma is an incurable disease and individuals with this condition will need regular follow-up and monitoring of symptoms. During my postings in asthma clinic, I realized that patient education is the most important aspect of management of patients with asthma and without this, control of exacerbations and symptoms in asthma becomes difficult. Hence in this research article, I chose to discuss about patient education in asthma. The most common symptoms of asthma in an adult are wheezing, cough, nocturnal or exercise-induced cough, breathlessness, tightness of chest and sputum production (Brenner, 2009).

The symptoms may be perennial or seasonal, continuous or intermittent, or during the day or night. Some of the precipitating or aggravating factors include viral infections, intense emotions, environmental irritants, exercise, pets or carpets at home, drugs like aspirin, additive foods, weather changes, stress and certain diseases like gastrointestinal reflux, sinusitis and rhinitis (Brenner, 2009). Many patients have a family history of asthma or other allergy conditions. Treatment depends on the staging of asthma which again depends on the frequency and severity of symptoms.

The main drugs for treatment are bronchodilators and steroids. These drugs can be given either oral, through metered dose inhalers or through nebulizations (Sharma and Gupta, 2009, Emedicine). Education of the patients is very important in the management of asthma. Parents, patients, partners, friends, relative and caregivers need to learn to identify symptoms and signs of asthma, what medications to given at home and when to bring the patient to the hospital. Any environmental factors which trigger attacks of asthma must be avoided (Sharma and Gupta, 2009, Emedicine).

Management strategies which aim to control eosinophilic airway inflammation or hyper-responsiveness of the airways have better control of exacerbations than those which aim at controlling immediate clinical symptoms. The patient must be advised to avoid dust mite exposure and also avoid close contact with pets like cats and dogs. Other allergens which must be avoided include sensitization foods like eggs and other food allergens and environmental allergens like smoking and air pollutants (SIGN, 2009, p.30-31). Education of the patient and the family members is very essential in asthma.

Patient must be educated about compliance with treatment, monitoring of response to treatment, identification of danger signs of asthma, self administration of inhalation therapy and nebulization, proper use of therapy devices, prevention of environmental triggering factors and indications to rush to the hospital (Ignacio-Garcia and Gonzalez-Santos, 1995, p.355). Patient must be educated to initiate inhalation bronchodilator therapy at home before shifting to hospital. Patients must also be informed about the importance of regular follow-up with physician and review.

The patient must be asked to maintain a diary of her symptoms and treatment strategies adopted. In case of children, even the school teachers must be educated. Thus, education of the patient and the family members plays an important role in the management of asthma. References Brenner, B.E. (2009) Asthma. Emedicine from WebMD [online]. Retrieved on 19th May, 2011 from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/806890-overview [Accessed 28th November, 2009] Ignacio-Garcia, J.M., Gonzalez-Santos, P. (1995) Asthma self-management education program by home monitoring of peak expiratory flow.

American Journal Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 151(2 Pt 1), 353-9. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. (SIGN). (2009) British Guideline on the Management of Asthma. Retrieved on 19th May, 2011 from www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/101/index.html Sharma, G.D. and Gupta, P. (2009) Asthma. Emedicine from WebMD. [online] Retrieved on 19th May, 2011 from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1000997-overview [Accessed on 28th November 2009]