Asthma and Stepwise Management Research Assignment

Asthma Control and Stepwise Management
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Institutional Affiliation
Asthma Control and Stepwise Management
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Asthma is a long-term chronic inflammatory disease that narrows the airways (NIH, 2014). The disease is associated with recurrent periods of shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, and coughing. Coughing in particular often occurs very early in the morning or at night. Asthma has no cure. However, the disease can be managed through early treatment, which will prevent the disease from worsening resulting in a fatal asthma attack. The exact course of the disorder is not known. Researchers think that environmental factors, as well as genetic factors, are the primary causes of asthma. Some of the factors that cause the disease include inheritance of the disease from parents with asthma, atopy, exposure or contact with airborne allergens and respiratory infection in childhood. To this end, the aim of the paper will offer a description of the disease long-term control and quick-relief treatment guideline, the impact of asthma drugs on the patient and ultimately, it will discuss the stepwise management and treatment of the disease.
Long-term control of asthmatic patient and the drugs used
As aforementioned, asthma is a long-term disorder with no cure. The aim of the disease treatment procedure is to control its effects from becoming severe. Good control of asthma will maintain healthy lung function, prevent fatal lungs attack, reduce the need for reliever medicines and restores normal sleep throughout the night.
Long-term control of the disease may be both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment. Non-pharmacological control may involve avoiding the allergens that may trigger the disease and engaging in frequent physical activities which are paramount in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The medications used for long-term treatment of the illness include inhaled corticosteroids, cromolyn, omalizumab, leukotriene modifiers and theophylline. These drugs are most effective for the relief of swellings and inflammation that makes the airways very sensitive to certain allergic inhaled substances. The most preferred drug for the treatment of asthma is the inhaled corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are used for long-term treatment in inhaled form while systemic corticosteroids are used in the case of severe asthma cases. Just like any other medical drug, corticosteroids though inhaled may have side effects. The most common side effects are candidiasis, oropharyngeal, cough, hoarseness, headache and oropharyngeal. However, most of the mouth infections may be reduced by the use of a holding chamber or spacer found on the inhalers and by using mouth rinsing products (AAFA, 2015).
Cromolyn on the hand is taken using a device referred to as the nebulizer. During the inhalation process, the nebulizer converts the medicine which is used to prevent inflammation in mist form and sends it to the lungs. Omalizumab, on the other hand, is commonly ad...