There are specific factors which may result in triggering asthma, starting off with the first factor which is environmental. Nowadays we live in an environment which has a high amount of pollutants such as, flower scents, mould, pests, dust mites, tobacco, animal dander, car pollution, extreme weather and many more. There are certain factors that we can control especially those that we can find indoors. Those that are found indoors can be controlled in order to avoid asthma triggers, an example of this can be cleaning weekly, keeping pets out of rooms, removing carpets, servicing the air conditioners and vacuuming. Second factor can be allergies, unfortunately an allergic reaction can be similar or the same in order to trigger an asthma attack. According to studies being overweight will result in more chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, which means that the patient will suffer from inflammation throughout the body. Last factor that I am going to explain is smoking, this can affect an asthmatic person because when a person inhales tobacco, irritations substances will lay out in the moist lining on the airways. These irritants can trigger an asthma attack.
Nowadays thanks to scientists we are developing more and more tests in order to be able to diagnose diseases in their early stages. Starting off with the first test spirometry, this test is often used to assess the patient’s lungs. The procedure of this test is to take deep breathes and exhaling it as fast as they can through a mouthpiece attached to this equipment. This test consists of two measurements, these are the volume of air breathed in and the volume of air breathed out. Normally this test is done many times to get accurate results. Second test peak expiratory flow test, this test is done by a device called peak flow meter. This is a very easy test, it measures how fast the patient can blow air out of his/her lungs in only one breathe. Most of the time this test occurs over weeks, in fact the patient needs to take this device home so she/he can record daily measurements. The patient needs to take this device with him or her because asthma can be vary due to changes in our lungs throughout the day. Third test airway responsiveness, this is a difficult test in fact this test occurs only if there are no clear symptoms of asthma. The airway responsiveness test measures how the airway reacts when it is contacted with a trigger. During this test the patient is asked to breathe in medication, which will eventually irritate the airways and possibly trigger a mild asthma attack. Another test that can be done is testing airway inflammation, this test can be done by two different methods. The first method is to take a phlegm sample and the second method is while the patient is breathing out, the level of the nitric oxide is measured. An allergy test can also be done in order to confirm if the person’s asthma is associated with any allergies. Imaging tests are also an alternative, these can be a CT-scan or a chest x-ray of the patient nose cavities and lungs. With these scans they can identify any abnormalities related to asthma. The last test that I am going to mention is the sputum eosinophils, the main role of this test is to look for white blood cells while the patient is coughing. The white blood cells are present when symptoms occurs which later on are visible when they are stained with eosin.
Fortunately there are certain treatments that help prevent and control asthma, starting off with the first treatment inhaled corticosteroids are preferred methods for long-term control of asthma. The main function of this treatment is to relieve inflammation and swelling, reducing inflammation helps to prevent asthma attacks. Another treatment which is given during an asthma attack is cromolyn, this medicine is given when the patient is using the nebulizer. Once the patient breathes in, the nebulizer will send medicine to the lungs to prevent airway inflammation. Omalizumab is a medicine given as an injection one or two times a month, this medicine helps to prevent our body from reacting to asthma triggers. Inhaled long-acting beta2-agonist and theophylline are all medicines that open the airways. The leukotriene modifiers are a medicine take orally, this helps to prevent increase of inflammation. Then there is the quick-relief medicine these are called inhaled short-acting beta2-agonisits these act quickly in order to relax tight muscle, this allows to open airways so air can flow through them.
A patient who is diagnosed with asthma needs to have frequent check-ups, it is also very important to remove any items which can trigger asthma such as rugs or animals. It is also recommended to record your symptoms in a diary to see how well the treatment is controlling your asthma. Good control of asthma will prevent coughing and shortness of breath, reduce the use of quick relief medicine, help to maintain good lung function, prevent asthma attacks and let the person maintain the normal activity of sleeping throughout the night. It is also very important to use proper asthma medications as like with other medications they have side effects. When a person starts having these symptoms it is very important to do a check-up or talk to someone else because if these signs are not treated asthma triggers can worsen which even in some cases can be fatal.
Bibliography
ACAAI. (2015). Asthma Treatment. [online] Available at: http://acaai.org/asthma/asthma-treatment [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016].
H. Gibbons, M.D, G. (2016). How Is Asthma Treated and Controlled? - NHLBI, NIH. [online] Nhlbi.nih.gov. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/treatment [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016].
Stannard, L. and Stannard, L. (2016). The Effects of Asthma on the Brain | eHow. [online] eHow. Available at: http://www.ehow.com/about_5147559_effects-asthma-brain.html [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016)
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Mayoclinic.org, (2015). Asthma Tests and diagnosis - Mayo Clinic. [online] Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20026992 [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
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Dr. Paul M. Ehrlich, M. (2015). Why do I cough during an asthma attack? - Living With Asthma. [online] Sharecare. Available at: https://www.sharecare.com/health/living-with-asthma/why-cough-during-asthma-attack [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
Nhlbi.nih.gov, (2015). What Is Cough? - NHLBI, NIH. [online] Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cough [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
Niams.nih.gov, (2015). Fast Facts About Back Pain. [online] Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Back_Pain/back_pain_ff.asp [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
Mayoclinic.org, (2015). Asthma Tests and diagnosis - Mayo Clinic. [online] Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20026992 [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
Medical News Today, (2004). What is Asthma? How Do You Get Asthma? How Long Does Asthma Last?. [online] Available at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/9993.php [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
Nhlbi.nih.gov, (2015). What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Asthma? - NHLBI, NIH. [online] Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/signs [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
Beverly, A. and Beverly, A. (2015). What Body Systems Are Affected by Asthma? | eHow. [online] eHow. Available at: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5554008_body-systems-affected-asthma.html [Accessed 18March. 2016].
Nhlbi.nih.gov, (2015). What Is Asthma? - NHLBI, NIH. [online] Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
Asthma.partners.org, (2015). Is Asthma Inherited?. [online] Available at: http://www.asthma.partners.org/NewFiles/BoFAChapter34.html [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
Henry Gong, J. (1990). Wheezing and Asthma. Butterworths. [online] Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK358/ [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
ACAAI. (2015). Asthma Treatment. [online] Available at: http://acaai.org/asthma/asthma-treatment [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016].
H. Gibbons, M.D, G. (2016). How Is Asthma Treated and Controlled? - NHLBI, NIH. [online] Nhlbi.nih.gov. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/treatment [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016].
Stannard, L. and Stannard, L. (2016). The Effects of Asthma on the Brain | eHow. [online] eHow. Available at: http://www.ehow.com/about_5147559_effects-asthma-brain.html [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016)
Argosy Publishing, I. (2016). 5 Functions of Respiratory System. [online] Learn.visiblebody.com. Available at: http://learn.visiblebody.com/respiratory/5-functions-of-respiratory-system [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016].
References:
Argosy Publishing, I. (2016). 5 Functions of Respiratory System. [online] Learn.visiblebody.com. Available at: http://learn.visiblebody.com/respiratory/5-functions-of-respiratory-system [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016].
H. Gibbons, M.D, G. (2016). How Is Asthma Treated and Controlled? - NHLBI, NIH. [online] Nhlbi.nih.gov. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/treatment [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016].
Beverly, A. and Beverly, A. (2015). What Body Systems Are Affected by Asthma? | eHow. [online] eHow. Available at: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5554008_body-systems-affected-asthma.html [Accessed 18March. 2016].
Nhlbi.nih.gov, (2015). What Is Asthma? - NHLBI, NIH. [online] Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
Asthma.partners.org, (2015). Is Asthma Inherited?. [online] Available at: http://www.asthma.partners.org/NewFiles/BoFAChapter34.html [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
Argosy Publishing, I. (2016). 5 Functions of Respiratory System. [online] Learn.visiblebody.com. Available at: http://learn.visiblebody.com/respiratory/5-functions-of-respiratory-system [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016].
Mayoclinic.org, (2015). Asthma Tests and diagnosis - Mayo Clinic. [online] Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20026992 [Accessed 18 March. 2016].
ACAAI. (2015). Asthma Treatment. [online] Available at: http://acaai.org/asthma/asthma-treatment [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016].
H. Gibbons, M.D, G. (2016). How Is Asthma Treated and Controlled? - NHLBI, NIH. [online] Nhlbi.nih.gov. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/treatment [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016].
Quoting:
“research indicates that asthma affect your nervous system, a nerve growth factor a nervous system protein, has been found to increase sensitivity to irritants among people suffering from asthma and allergies”. (Apryl Bevelery: 2014)
Essay Plan:
Introduction:
- In this paragraph I will be mentioning how a person can suffer from asthma, asthma can affect all ages. In certain cases especially in young children asthma can be cured naturally. I mentioned statistics, another thing that I mentioned during this paragraph was how the respiratory system works.
Body 1:
- During this paragraph I am going to describe what is asthma and what happens during an asthma attack.
Body 2:
- In this paragraph I am going to mention some asthma symptoms I also described what the symptoms are and what happens on each symptom.
Body 3:
- In this paragraph I am going to mention factors that can affect or trigger asthma attacks. What can also be done in order to prevent these triggers.
Body 4:
- I am also going to mention what tests can be done in order to find what the patient is diagnosed with, I also I am going to describe on how the tests are performed.
Body 5:
- I also going to mention on what treatments are available depending if it a long acting or short acting. I will also mention preventions on how to help prevent an asthma attack.
Conclusion:
- What is recommended to do, check-ups, prevent factors that can affect a trigger. It is also recommended to take daily records to see if the treatment is working.