AsthmaBy: Haley Taylor Schlitz

2015

Definitions

Asthma – is a disease that causes your airway to close and create more mucous which makes breathing difficult or impossible.

The airway closes because the involuntary muscles inside of the walls of your trachea and bronchi squeeze them closed. AND there is also a lot mucus produced that clogs things up.

Finally, there is inflammation.

Inflammation is when many immune cells that help your body fight bad things actually move into an area and the chemicals inside of these immune cells cause swelling, and cause the blood vessels to leak, making a huge mess in the area where they are located.

Symptoms

Asthma causes shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, chest pain, and fatigue.

Etiology

What causes asthma? Asthma is a disease that people are typically born with, although it can be acquired later in life. Sometimes things in the environment can also cause asthma to develop in people who have that predisposition.

Triggers

- are things that either cause asthma, or cause it to worsen, which is called an asthma attack

Examples: cock-roaches, viruses, allergens, strong emotions, weather changes, pollution, drugs and medications, exercise, and even hormones.

Risk FactorsHow likely are you to have asthma? Increased risks include:

• being a smoker

• having a family history of asthma

• having a mother who smoked while pregnant with you

• being exposed to second-hand smoke

• living in polluted areas

• being in environments that have irritating chemicals and fumes

• having allergies.

Of note:

• 13% of Black children have asthma

• 8% of White children have asthma

• 8% of Hispanic have asthma

• 12% of American Indians and Alaskan Natives children have asthma

DiagnosisHow do the doctors discover you have asthma?

• First she will ask you and your parents lots of questions (take a medical history).

• Then she'll do a physical exam. Listen to your lungs.

• She may check your oxygen level with a pulse-oximeter.

• She may do lung and breathing tests called pulmonary function tests.

• She may do a trigger test, to try and see if certain things cause your asthma symptoms to happen

• And the doctor will want to make sure that your problem isn't something other than asthma, so she may do blood tests, or x-rays, or other tests to rule out other possibilities.

• Sometimes, the doctor may just treat the symptoms you are having LIKE its asthma. And if the medication helps, they may decide that it IS asthma.

Have Diagnosis

What happens during an asthma attack?

Remember asthma is a disease that causes:

• The smooth muscles in the airways to get thick and squeeze the airway close.

• Increase mucous production which clogs up the airway.

• Inflammation which causes immune cells to go to the area and release chemicals that cause swelling and fluid leakage, which worsens.

ComplicationsAsthma can interfere with your life in many ways, such as:

• Sometimes result in frequent hospital and emergency room visits

• More doctor clinic visits

• Remembering to take the medications and dealing with side-effects of the medication.

• Limitation in your activity at times

• Everyone worries about you, so you may get less independence

• Lung infections can happen more often to you

• Missing school days and other extracurricular activities

ComplicationsStatus Asthmaticus

• This complication can be life threatening.

• This is when an asthma attack turns into a very serious attack.

• It is the rapid worsening of asthma where the airways close and very little air can get to your lungs.

• Even after treatments, the airways either stay closed, or continue to close. This can cause you to lose the ability to breathe, and die.

TreatmentHow is Asthma Treated?

Treatment is based on the severity of your asthma.

• For MILD asthma a short-acting beta-agonist is used when you feel symptomatic - this is like the normal albuterol inhalers that are common.

• For more serious asthma different medications are added, such as inhaled steroids used regularly, and not just when you are having symptoms.

• For even more severe asthma there are stronger medications used, and different combinations of the medications are tried.

• Sometimes, in VERY severe asthma attacks (such as in Status Asthmaticus) intubation is required to save your life.

Medications

• beta2-adrenergic agonist

(Albuterol) - relieve the muscle spasm that happens in the airway. They are used during an attack. There are also long-acting medications in this class that are used.

• anticholinergic agents

(ipratropium) - helps stop mucous which clogs up the airway. may be added to beta2 -agonist therapy for acute exacerbations.

• corticosteroidsthese can oral or inhaled

They are used for more severe symptoms and when there is a need to prevent symptoms that happen often. Steroids help reverse the inflammation that makes the asthma worse.

• leukotriene receptor antagonistsstop the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes cause inflammation, so stopping their formation helps to decrease inflammation.

• methylxanthines (Theophylline)helps open the airway, helps them become less sensitive, and helps decrease inflammation.

• mast cell stabilizers (cromolyn)helps stop the inflammation.

Lifestyle RemediesLifestyle and home remedies

• Avoid your triggers

• Use the air-conditioner because it helps filter out the outside allergens. Also it helps dry the air so mold or dust mites can't grow

• Don't let dust build up in your home or on your bed clothes

• Keep your room and house clean

• Get rid of cock-roaches

• Eat well and drink plenty of water

• Avoid sugar because sugar causes even more inflammation in our bodies

• Local raw honey can help because it soothes your throat and exposes you to a small dose of allergen so your body gets used to it and learns to deal with it without a problem.

• Learn to relax

• Listen to your doctor

• Take your medications

Prevention

• Avoid known contributors such as smoking and exposure to smoke

• Treat your attack early before it gets out of hand

• Learn your body so you know when you are at risk for an attack

Finally a few interesting facts

Finally a few interesting facts

References

EPA Children's Environmental Health Disparities - Black and African American children and asthma

http://www.epa.gov/epahome/sciencenb/asthma/HD_AA_Asthma.pdf

Mayo Asthma

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/basics/definition/con-20026992

Asthma Allergy Foundation of America - Asthma Overview

http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&cont=7

What is meant by inflammation in asthma?

http://www.asthma.partners.org/newfiles/Inflammation.html

Inflammation and Asthma

http://www.gluegrant.org/inflammation-asthma.htm

Emedicine: Asthma

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/296301-overview

Lifestyle and Home Remedies for Asthma - American College of Chest Physicians

http://www.chestnet.org/Foundation/Patient-Education-Resources/Asthma/Lifestyle-and-Home-Remedies

Thanks for watching!By: Haley Taylor Schlitz