Asthma. Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Chronic Asthma and Acute Asthma
Assignment: Asthma
Complications of asthma can be sudden. Consider the case of Bradley Wilson, a young boy who had several medical conditions. He appeared in good health when he went to school, returned home, and ate dinner. However, when he later went outside to play, he came back inside wheezing. An ambulance took him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead (Briscoe, 2012). In another case, 10-year-old Dynasty Reese, who had mild asthma, woke up in the middle of the night and ran to her grandfather’s bedroom to tell him she couldn’t breathe. By the time paramedics arrived, she had passed out and was pronounced dead at the hospital (Glissman, 2012). These situations continue to outline the importance of recognizing symptoms of asthma and providing immediate treatment, as well as distinguishing minor symptoms from serious, life-threatening symptoms. Since these symptoms and attacks are often induced by a trigger, as an advanced practice nurse, you must be able to help patients identify their triggers and recommend appropriate treatment options. For this reason, you need to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic asthma and acute asthma exacerbation.
To Prepare
Review “Asthma” in Chapter 27 of the Huether and McCance text. Identify the pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic asthma and acute asthma exacerbation. Consider how these disorders are similar and different.
Select a patient factor different from the one you selected in this week’s Discussion: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior. Think about how the factor you selected might impact the pathophysiology of both disorders. Reflect on how you would diagnose and prescribe treatment of these disorders for a patient based on the factor you selected.
Review the “Mind maps—Dementia, Endocarditis, and Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)” media in the Week 2 Learning Resources. Use the examples in the media as a guide to construct two mind maps—one for chronic asthma and one for acute asthma exacerbation. Consider the epidemiology and clinical presentation of both chronic asthma and acute asthma exacerbation.
To Complete
Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:
Describe the pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic asthma and acute asthma exacerbation. Be sure to explain the changes in the arterial blood gas patterns during an exacerbation.
Explain how the factor you selected might impact the pathophysiology of both disorders. Describe how you would diagnose and prescribe treatment for a patient based on the factor you selected.
Construct two mind maps—one for chronic asthma and one for acute asthma exacerbation. Include the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation, as well as the diagnosis and treatment you explained in your paper.
By Day 7
This Assignment is due.
Note: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at http://writingcenter(dot)waldenu(dot)edu/57.htm). All papers submitted must use this formatting.
Reference
Briscoe, K. (2012, May 12). Thetford: mother of Bradley Wilson, who died of asthma attack, told there was nothing she could have done. East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved from http://www(dot)eadt(dot)co(dot)uk/news/thetford_mother_of_bradley_wilson_who_died_of_asthma_attack_told_there_was_nothing_she_could_have_done_1_1375128
Glissman, B. (2012, May 21). Girl's death puts focus on asthma's broader grip. Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved from http://www(dot)omaha(dot)com/article/20120521/LIVEWELL01/305219975
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Asthma
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Introduction
Asthma is a severe illness involving the airways of the lungs, which are also known as bronchial tubes. These airways allow air to enter the lungs (Elizur et al. 2007). In some circumstances, these bronchial tubes get inflamed, leading to chronic asthma or acute asthma. If the disease is not diagnosed and treated timely, the airways become swollen, and the muscles around them are tightened, causing symptoms like suffocation or shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, permanent flu, and chest tightness. For most of the patients, the timings of these symptoms are related to their physical activities. For instance, if someone does tough exercises, then he or she may develop the symptoms only during the workout, and the condition is known as exercise-induced asthma (EIA) or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB).
Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Chronic Asthma and Acute Asthma
According to Suzanne Kennedy and team, the pathophysiology of chronic asthma is associated with the etiology of persistent viral infections and Chlamydia. Viruses, bacteria and other microbes cause asthma in children, and its core mechanism is the reproduction or replication of microorganisms that appear in the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract (Kennedy et al. 2003). These microbes, especially viruses, contribute to chronic asthma and trigger the release of cytokine. Inflammation may also take place, and the production of mucus increases, with no significant changes taking place in the arterial blood patterns.
In contrast, acute asthma appears in individuals whose respiratory tract, lungs or other body organs fail to respond to treatments like bronchodilators or corticosteroids. In this situation, the chest of the sufferer is tightened, leading to suffocation; excessive exposure to allergens is the primary cause of the illness. Inflammation in this type of asthma can be characterized by the influx of eosinophils at an early stage, and it is the time when neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils are mixed. A significant number of changes in the arterial blood patter...