Asthma And Stepwise Management: Long-Term Control

Asthma
Name:
Course:
Instructor:
Institution:
Date of Submission:
Asthma and Stepwise Management
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that narrows the airway of the lungs. It causes breath shortness, chest tightness, and the whistling sound when breathing. The airways become sensitive and swollen because of inflammation. The muscles around the lungs tighten when the airways react and become narrow hence causing less air to flow to the lungs. The principle objective is to understand various signs and symptoms, the cause and how to treat the disease so that it can be controlled effectively. Individuals are able to understand the stepwise management approach for treatment. Asthma control is based on two major principles which are reducing the impairment on the symptoms experienced by the patient and reducing the risk of any future medication side effects and asthma attacks.
Long-term control and quick-relief treatment
Long-Term
The individuals affected with asthma need to take the long-term control medication on the daily basis so as to reduce the symptoms and the airway inflammation. This medication gives quick relief to the patient and also prevents possible asthma attacks and controlling chronic symptoms. According to Drugs.com (2012), Inhaled corticosteroids are a good example of the preferred and effective long-term medicines of asthma which are used to relief swelling and inflammation. When the inflammation is reduced, the reaction which causes severe symptoms is minimized. However, these medicines have various side effects such as mouth infection, coughing, and easy bruising (Peterson& Arcangelo 2013).
Quick-Relief treatment
Individuals suffering from asthma require quick relief medicine to ease the symptoms that may flare up such as severe coughing during the asthma attack. These medicines provide instant relief to the tight muscles around the airways by relaxing them. An asthmatic patient should understand the importance of having a quick relief inhaler so that they are not caught unaware by severe symptoms. This medicine has some side effects on the patient which have impacts that cause headaches, restlessness, tremors and fast heartbeats.
Stepwise Approach to Treatment and Management
The first way of treating a patient who has asthma is first diagnosed the patient to determine the severity of the diseases so as to determine how to control it. The objective of the assessment process of the patient is to determine the severity so as to de...