Asthma Care Planning & Management (Week 3)

What is asthma?

chronic inflammatory disease of the airways marked by variability in airflow obstruction that is often reversible (with trx or spontaneously)

What are the common symptoms of asthma?

• Chest tightness

• wheezing

• coughing

• frequent episodes of breathlessness (SOB)

What 2 things do we need to diagnose asthma?

1. History = Signs & Symptoms suggestive of asthma

2. Evidence = proof of variable flow limitation

How many asthma deaths coulda been prevented with proper asthma education?

80%

For diagnosis what are we looking at in regards to post-bronchodilators affect?

• increase in FEV1 >12 % with and increase in volume >200mls

What is allergic/ extrinsic asthma?

often begins in childhood & associated with eczema, allergic rhinitis or food/drug allergy.

• Sputum often reveals eosinophilic airway inflammation

What is non-allergic/ intrinsic asthma?

asthma not associated with allergy

• sputum may be neutrophilic, eosinophilic or contain few inflammatory cells

What is adult-onset asthma?

late onset asthma in adult life

• tend to be non-allergic and often require higher dose ICS or are refractory to corticosteroid treatments

What is asthma with persistent air flow limitation?

some pts with asthma have long standing airflow limitation that is persistent or incompletely reversible

• due to airway remodeling