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.
Asthma
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Asthma is one of the most common inflammatory diseases. It primarily occurs in the airways of the lungs and can be characterized by certain recurring symptoms and reversible airflow obstruction (Cockcroft, 2005). Some of the most common symptoms are the tightness of the chest, wheezing, shortness of breath, and long-term cough. These symptoms get worsened at night, early in the morning, and during the winter season. A person with asthma may find it difficult to breathe in an environment where sufficient oxygen is not available, such as in hilly areas or mountainous areas.
Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Chronic Asthma and Acute Asthma
The pathophysiology of chronic asthma is closely linked with the etiology of Chlamydia and viral infections. Children and adults develop the illness because of viral and bacterial attacks; sometimes, other microbes also cause the illness. The core mechanism is that replication or reproduction of microorganisms takes place, and when these microbes increase in number, they begin accumulating in the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract and cause a lot of problems (Weinberger, 2016). With time, they become the main cause of chronic asthma and eventually trigger the release of cytokine. In some situations, inflammation also takes place. At the same time, the production of mucus increases. It should be noticed that no changes take place in the arterial blood patterns.
On the other hand, acute asthma develops in people whose respiratory systems are weak or the ones whose lungs and other parts of the body stop responding to corticosteroids or bronchodilators (Randolph, 2003). When the disease is developed, the chest of a person gets tightened and this may keep them from breathing properly. In other words, we can say that suffocation takes place. Long-term and excessive exposure to allergens is what people with acute asthma need to avoid. In this type of asthma, inflammation is characterized by the influx of eosinophils. With time, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and neutrophils get mixed, and one can observe a number of changes in the arterial blood patterns.
Home factors that lead to exacerbation of asthma are animal dander, dust and cockroach allergens. Perfumes can also cause acute attacks in children and teenagers. In the case of acute asthma, the arterial blood patterns exhibit prominent changes in the pH, meaning this can rise to as high as 7.5. On the other hand, the ...
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