AsthmaAsthma

Sarah ConradSarah Conrad

Kristin BossermanKristin Bosserman

http://www.mayoclinic.com/popupnowrap.cfm?objectid=EE174050-1224-4BB7-8B5BE07AF48D8AD4&method=display_full

General OverviewGeneral Overview AsthmaAsthma--a common --a common

disorder in which chronic disorder in which chronic inflammation of the inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them swell, makes them swell, narrowing the airways. narrowing the airways.

Involves only the Involves only the bronchial tubes and does bronchial tubes and does not affect the air sacs not affect the air sacs (alveoli) or the lung tissue (alveoli) or the lung tissue (the parenchyma of the (the parenchyma of the lung) itself. lung) itself.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/asthma.html

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2373

Diagram of a LungDiagram of a Lung

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.medicinenet.com/images/lung_1_01.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.medicinenet.com/smokers_lung_pathology_photo_essay/article.htm&h=342&w=425&sz=26&hl=en&start=15&um=1&tbnid=LyX8i_YefApYuM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlung%2Bdiagram%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-US%26sa%3DN

Asthma FactsAsthma Facts Around 20 million people have asthma.Around 20 million people have asthma. 9 million U.S. children under 18 suffer from asthma.9 million U.S. children under 18 suffer from asthma. From 1980-1994, asthma cases increased by 75%.From 1980-1994, asthma cases increased by 75%. From 1980-1994, the occurrence of asthma in From 1980-1994, the occurrence of asthma in

children under 5 increased 160%.children under 5 increased 160%. Health care costs account for $18 billion each year.Health care costs account for $18 billion each year. Prescription drugs accounted for the largest direct Prescription drugs accounted for the largest direct

medical expenses, over $5 billion.medical expenses, over $5 billion.

Facts cont… Facts cont…

There are 5,000 asthma related deaths yearly.There are 5,000 asthma related deaths yearly. African Americans are more likely to suffer from African Americans are more likely to suffer from

asthma than whites. (39% higher)asthma than whites. (39% higher) For females, it was 35% higher than in males.For females, it was 35% higher than in males. ““Every day in America 40,000 people miss Every day in America 40,000 people miss

school or work, 30,000 people have an asthma school or work, 30,000 people have an asthma attack, 5, 000 people visit the emergency room, attack, 5, 000 people visit the emergency room, 1,000 people are admitted to the hospital and 11 1,000 people are admitted to the hospital and 11 people die due to asthma.” (www.aaaai.org)people die due to asthma.” (www.aaaai.org)

Do you have Asthma?Do you have Asthma?

SignsSigns WheezingWheezing Coughing at nightCoughing at night Shortness of breathShortness of breath Chest tightness, pain, Chest tightness, pain,

pressurepressure Increased use of Increased use of

bronchodilatorsbronchodilators

SymptomsSymptoms Frequent coughFrequent cough Tired or weak during Tired or weak during

exerciseexercise Tired, grouchy, Tired, grouchy,

moody, or easily upsetmoody, or easily upset Signs of a coldSigns of a cold

Risk FactorsRisk Factors

OverallOverall Usually diagnosed in young peopleUsually diagnosed in young people GenderGender ObesityObesity SmokingSmoking RaceRace Family historyFamily history AllergiesAllergies

ChildrenChildren Exposure to second-hand smokeExposure to second-hand smoke Exposure to allergensExposure to allergens Viral respiratory infectionViral respiratory infection Exposure to a city or town’s air pollutionExposure to a city or town’s air pollution

DiagnosisDiagnosis

Thorough medical history, including family Thorough medical history, including family historyhistory

Sxs and when they seem to occurSxs and when they seem to occur Hx of allergiesHx of allergies Physical examPhysical exam

Listening to lungs--high-pitched Listening to lungs--high-pitched whistling soundwhistling sound

Check skin for allergic conditionsCheck skin for allergic conditions

Lung Function TestsLung Function Tests

Spirometry-Spirometry--take deep -take deep breaths in and forcefully breaths in and forcefully exhale into a hose exhale into a hose connected to a machine connected to a machine called a spirometercalled a spirometer

• Forced vital capacity Forced vital capacity (FVC)--maximum amount (FVC)--maximum amount of air you can inhale and of air you can inhale and exhaleexhale

• Forced expiratory volume Forced expiratory volume (FEV-1)--maximum (FEV-1)--maximum amount of air you can amount of air you can exhale in one secondexhale in one second

Challenge Test-Challenge Test--doctor -doctor deliberately tries to trigger deliberately tries to trigger asthma symptoms by asthma symptoms by having you inhale an having you inhale an airway-constricting airway-constricting substance or take several substance or take several breaths of cold air. After breaths of cold air. After the trigger of symptoms, the trigger of symptoms, you retake the spirometry you retake the spirometry test.test.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma/AS00003

TreatmentsTreatments Develop a daily self-management plan and Develop a daily self-management plan and

an emergency action plan with your doctoran emergency action plan with your doctor Two medicine types:Two medicine types:

Quick-relief medicinesQuick-relief medicines--taken at the first --taken at the first signs of asthma and for the immediate signs of asthma and for the immediate relief of these symptoms. These are the relief of these symptoms. These are the short-acting inhaled beta-agonists, aka short-acting inhaled beta-agonists, aka bronchodilators. bronchodilators.

Long-term control medicinesLong-term control medicines--taken --taken every day for long periods of time to every day for long periods of time to prevent symptoms and asthma attacks. prevent symptoms and asthma attacks. Long-acting beta-agonists are usually Long-acting beta-agonists are usually taken together with inhaled taken together with inhaled corticosteroid medicines. People with corticosteroid medicines. People with persistent asthma need long-term persistent asthma need long-term control medicines.control medicines.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://alignmap.com/wp-content/Graphics/asthma%2520group.jpg&imgrefurl=http://alignmap.com/2006/11/02/depression-decreased-adherence-to-asthma-therapy/&h=351&w=286&sz=32&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid

Types of AsthmaTypes of Asthma Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)--inflammation of the inside --inflammation of the inside

lining of the nose resulting in a constant runny nose, lining of the nose resulting in a constant runny nose, ongoing sneezing, swollen nasal passages, excess ongoing sneezing, swollen nasal passages, excess mucus, weepy eyes, and a scratchy throat. Many times mucus, weepy eyes, and a scratchy throat. Many times asthma symptoms are triggered by allergic rhinitis.asthma symptoms are triggered by allergic rhinitis.

Exercise-Induced AsthmaExercise-Induced Asthma--triggered by exercise or --triggered by exercise or physical exertion. People without asthma can develop physical exertion. People without asthma can develop symptoms only during exercise. symptoms only during exercise.

Cough-Variant AsthmaCough-Variant Asthma--severe coughing is the --severe coughing is the predominant symptom and could be caused by predominant symptom and could be caused by postnasal drip, chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, or postnasal drip, chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (heartburn). Coughing gastroesophageal reflux disease (heartburn). Coughing because of sinusitis with asthma is common.because of sinusitis with asthma is common.

Types of Asthma cont…Types of Asthma cont… Occupational AsthmaOccupational Asthma--results from workplace --results from workplace

triggers. You might have difficulty breathing and triggers. You might have difficulty breathing and asthma symptoms from Monday through Friday asthma symptoms from Monday through Friday but not on the weekends. Some sxs are runny but not on the weekends. Some sxs are runny nose and congestion or eye irritation or a cough nose and congestion or eye irritation or a cough instead of the typical asthma wheezing. instead of the typical asthma wheezing.

Nocturnal AsthmaNocturnal Asthma--If you have asthma, the --If you have asthma, the chances of having symptoms are much higher chances of having symptoms are much higher during sleep because asthma is powerfully during sleep because asthma is powerfully influenced by the sleep-wake cycle (circadian influenced by the sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythms). Most deaths related to asthma occur rhythms). Most deaths related to asthma occur at night.at night.

SourcesSources http://www.aaaai.org/media/resources/media_kit/http://www.aaaai.org/media/resources/media_kit/

asthma_statistics.stmasthma_statistics.stm http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/asthma-symptomshttp://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/asthma-symptoms http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/asthma-symptomshttp://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/asthma-symptoms http://www.recoverymedicine.com/http://www.recoverymedicine.com/

asthma_wellness_tips.htmasthma_wellness_tips.htm http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/introduction-http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/introduction-

000004_5-145.html000004_5-145.html http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma/AS00003http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma/AS00003 http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/

Asthma_Treatments.htmlAsthma_Treatments.html http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/types-asthma?http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/types-asthma?

page=2page=2