Asthma Explanation & Inhaler Technique

Question 1

Give the overall structure of explainig a diagnosis

Answer 1

• C → Check patient understanding & what they were expecting from consultation
• I → ICE
• D → Diagnosis
• R → Reassure (e.g. very common condition)
• E → Explanation
• S → Safetynet

Question 2

Break down the ‘explain’ part of CIDRES

Answer 2

Normally We Can Probably Manage

• N → Normal anatomy & physiology
• W → What the disease is
• C → Cause of disease
• P → Problems/complications
• M → Management

Question 3

Example of ‘normal anatomy & physiology’ for explanation for asthma

Answer 3

When you breathe in, air travels from your mouth through a series of tubes in your lungs that resemble a tree.

When air reaches the smallest of these tubes, your blood absorbs the oxygen from the air and carries it around the body.

Question 4

Example of ‘what asthma is’

Answer 4

Asthma is one of the most common lung conditions

People with asthma have sensitive and inflamed airways that become narrower than normal

This cause cause symptoms such as SOB, wheezing, chest tightness

Question 5

Example of ‘cause of asthma’

Answer 5

• Cause is unknown but some things make people more likely to get it such as having other allergies or having a family history of asthma
• Most people tend to develop asthma in childhood, but it can start in adulthood too

Question 6

Example of explanation of cause of asthma symptoms

Answer 6

• Symptoms are caused by intermittent narrowing of the tubes in the lungs
• Sometimes the narrowed tubes cause the air to whistle as it moves through them, like wind in a tunnel – this is called a wheeze
• The symptoms of asthma tend to come and go in response to things known as triggers – allergies (e.g. pets, pollen, food), infections, stress, smoking, sudden temperature changes
  
  • It is important to try and work out what triggers your asthma as it is different for everyone
  • Avoiding your triggers is a key part of managing asthma

Question 7

Give 2 main complications of asthma to warn the patient about

Answer 7

1. Acute asthma attack
2. Persistent symptoms

Question 8

How can you safetynet for an asthma attack?

Answer 8

• Worsening of symptoms that may not improve with use of inhaler – ‘asthma attack’
• Important to manage this properly as can be life threatening
• Signs of asthma attack → tight chest, coughing a lot, difficult to talk due to SOB, breathing quickly or reliever inhaler not helping symptoms
• If you are experiencing worsening symptoms or find that your reliever inhaler isn’t helping → call 999

Question 9

When should the patient get in contact with the GP for an asthma review?

Answer 9

• Having to use reliever inhaler more than 3x a week
• Symptoms waking them up at night
• Frequent symptoms

Question 10

What are the aims of asthma management?

Answer 10

• No daytime symptoms
• No night-time waking
• No asthma attacks
• No limitations on activity including exercise
• Minimal side effects from medication