SOC-313-Week-3A3-Asthma
The Chronic Illness “Asthma”
SOC 313
1. Introduction:
The Chronic Illness “Asthma”
Growing up I remember my aunt and cousin’s suffering from asthma. Asthma seems like a very common sickness but it can turn into something very serious. Working in a Pediatric clinic I get first-hand experience with treating and preventing asthma with my provider!
Thesis:
When people suffer from asthma, it is extremely important to understand what asthma is but also to discuss how it affects individuals, who it affects, what population it affects, how it is treated, risk factors and what the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program is doing to address the problem of asthma in the United States.
2. What is Asthma?
“ HYPERLINK “http://online.vitalsource.com/books/9780763772291/content/id/gloss72” Asthma is a condition characterized by airway hyper responsiveness and contraction of the smooth muscles of the airway, leading to constriction of the bronchi It is associated with episodic attacks of wheezing, HYPERLINK “http://online.vitalsource.com/books/9780763772291/content/id/gloss229” dyspnea (difficulty breathing), chest tightness, and cough triggered by a variety of stimuli. Triggers of asthma exacerbations appear to involve complex interactions with factors within the environment.”(Falvo,2011)
A. The causes of asthma
B. Three major features of asthma
C. Symptoms of asthma and how it ranges from person to person
3. What population does asthma affect?
25 million Americans in 2009 suffered from HYPERLINK “http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/asthma/” o “What is Asthma?” asthma, compared to about 20 million in 2001, in 2001 7% of the country’s population was affected, in 2009 8% were affected. In just eight years the number of people diagnosed with asthma grew by 4.3 million, according to a new report published by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Although asthma mortality in the United States is among the lowest in the world, approximately 5,000 asthma-related deaths still occur each year in this country.
The asthma mortality rate has risen over the past 20 years or so, especially in African Americans and individuals age 85 and older. Rising asthma prevalence, especially among children, is another cause for concern. Between 1980 and 1994, the prevalence of asthma in the United States increased 75 percent overall and 74 percent among those between the ages of 5 and 14. It is estimated that more than 7 percent of children now have the disease.(NHLBI)
Who is affected more males or females or children?
Which nationality is affected by asthma the most?
Does asthma affected a certain age group?
4. The risk factors and medical treatments use to treat asthma.
Asthma has many known and suspected causes. We know that people with allergies are more likely to develop asthma – a much higher percentage of people with HYPERLINK “http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160665.php” o “What Is Hay Fever? What Is Allergic Rhinitis? What Causes Hay Fever?” hay fever also suffer from asthma. Breathing-in environmental tobacco smoke (secondhand smoking) can also cause asthma in some people.
Environmental factors can also increase asthma risk, such as indoor pollution from mold or fumes from household cleaners and paints, as well as nitrogen oxide from gas stoves. Asthma risk may also be increased by exposure to sulfur dioxide pollution, ozone, low temperatures, and high humidity. When pollution levels in cities are high, the number of asthma-related hospital admissions increases. The following are also known or thought to be factors that increase asthma risk – HYPERLINK “http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/obesity/how-much-should-i-weigh.php” o “How Much Should I Weigh?” obesity, pregnancy, mental HYPERLINK “http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145855.php” o “What Is Stress? How To Deal With Stress” stress, respiratory infections, and genetic factors.
Discuss the process of what happens between patients and providers.
Discuss the structure component and how it is the quality-assurance mechanism in health.
Discuss the outcomes of care and what the results are after the medical treatment.
5. The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program and how it addresses asthma.
Certain factors indicate that many asthma-related hospitalizations and deaths are preventable. For example, the patient may fail to avoid environmental factors that make asthma worse, recognize early warning signs of worsening asthma, appreciate the severity of an exacerbation, take appropriate medication, or get prompt medical help when problems occur. The clinician may fail to diagnose asthma, initiate appropriate therapy, adequately monitor the patient’s condition, recognize serious exacerbations, or educate the patient to prevent symptoms and develop a crisis plan for emergencies. These issues indicate the need for asthma education—for both patients and health professionals
The growing rate of asthma in the United States.
Providing programs to educate patients, health professionals, and the public.
Different ways to improve the quality of life for patients with asthma and decrease asthma-related morbidity and mortality.
References
Asthma: A Serious and Growing Health Problem, Volume 18(Issue 2),
Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/prevrpt/04Volume18/Issue2pr.htm” http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/prevrpt/04Volume18/Issue2pr.htm
AHRQ Research on Caring for Children With Asthma: Translating Research Into Practice. (February 2000). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. Retrived from: HYPERLINK “http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/factsheets/children/chilasth/index.html” http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/factsheets/children/chilasth/index.html
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2011). National Asthma Education and Prevention
Program. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/naepp/naep_pd.htm” http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/naepp/naep_pd.htm
Falvo, D. (2009). Medical and psychosocial aspects of chronic illness and disability. Sudbury,
MA : Jones and Bartlett Publishers. ISBN: 9780763744618
