Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that is triggered by inflammatory responses causing airway narrowing, excess production of mucus membranes causing mucosal edema. Recurrent episodes of asthma is oftentimes caused by a specific allergen resulting from multiple symptoms including productive cough, rigidity of the chest, wheezing sound upon exhalation and difficulty in breathing. In the previous record of Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States last 2001, they stated that more than 17 million of Americans have asthma and 5,000 of them died in the end of the year because of the said disease.

Asthma, compared to the rest of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) is greatly reversible either naturally or with the use of specific treatment. Asthma patients may elicit periods of symptom-free and alternating days of exacerbation which last from minutes to hours or in worst cases, days. Target population of asthma is small children although this disease can occur at any age. The death rate of this disease continues to rise in the tally of mortality every year even though technological advancements is making its way on the most sophisticated regimes to treat this disease. And, majority of asthma patients consider this disease as a disruptive disease due to it does not impair only an individual’s physical activity such as sports but also interfering with school, work, occupational choices and ways of life.

For most cases of asthma, allergy is the most blamed cause. In such a way that if a person is exposed to various airway allergens for a long period of time, he or she has the greater risk of developing asthma. Seasonal allergens which are common includes grass, pollens and tree weeds while perennial allergens includes dust, molds, roaches or any other animal dander or fur. For acute exacerbation of asthma in asthmatic patients, the leading causes are airway irritants like air pollutants, cold temperature, heat, climate change, strong scents or fumes, smokes either from industrial plantations or cigarettes, exercise, stress, emotional distress, sinusitis with post nasal drips, medications, viral respiratory tract infections, and gastro esophageal reflux disease.

Asthmatic patients should be vigilant in submitting themselves for series of test to identify the substances which precipitates their symptoms. Most of these substances are greatly found in the environment. Thus, the environment of asthmatic patient should be modified to ensure that it is free from a substance which triggers asthma attack. Also, patients are instructed to avoid these substances as much as possible. Knowledge is the best key to improve quality of asthma care to get rid of complications that put patients at risk and even fatality. Complications include status asthmaticus, respiratory failure, and lung collapse. Obstruction in airway passages particularly during the course of asthmatic episodes results in decreased oxygen concentration in the body which is a fatal condition. Patients are in close monitoring of oxygen saturation and arterial blood chemistry. Also, fluids and electrolytes are administered due to dehydration from diaphoresis and fluid losses during hyperventilation and excessive mucus production. In this way, patients suffering from asthma are ensured of quality management to reduce case fatality.

Author Bio: Brent McNutt enjoys writing for Uniformhaven.com which sells dickies scrubs and landau 7502 as well as a host of additional products.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Asthma,Exacerbation,Prevent Exacerbation