Chronic respiratory diseases Flashcards
What are some common respiratory diseases?
Chronic Asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
What is Asthma?
a term that describes a collection of clinical disorders rather than a single disease that have in common reversible airflow limitation to the lungs in response to certain triggers.
The key underlying disease process occurring in asthma is inflammation of the airway walls and the parenchyma, triggering of which includes bronchial hyper responsiveness (BHR)
What is common management for the condition of chronic asthma?
• management of this condition requires knowledge of the factors that trigger an allergic response
What environmental factors may contribute to chronic asthma?
• increased levels of pollution in metropolitan regions and the likelihood of an increasing effect of global warming: increases CO2 levels are known to stimulate pollinosis, which can increase the levels of allergens and the types of allergens to which people are exposed
What are some non-allergic triggers of asthma?
cold air, exercise, stress, oesophageal reflux and responses to medications such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
What are some allergen triggers of asthma?
House dust mite
animal dander from cats, dogs, cockroach
mould
pollens of grasses, weeds, olive, birch and conifers:
• Cat allergens are particularly potent form of allergen: they are secreted by the sebaceous glands, salivary glands and uterus, stick to the hair and become airborne when the hair is shed
How is diet and activity restricted by asthma?
avoiding food that contains allergens
avoiding certain activities where allergens may be present
Examples including working in an environment with a lot of dust or smoke and allergens or the ability to go on a picnic in spring, living in the city or the country
participating in sport can be affected because of exertion and air temp
What are 4 areas of potential losses for sufferers of asthma?
general health status
diet/activity participation
Loss of certainty, predictability for day-to-day events
Loss of independence and ability to care for self
How can body image be affected for sufferers of asthma?
loss of self-esteem and dignity, loss of sexual performance abilities, loss of relationships with others and loss of full potential of body function.
What are interventions for chronic asthma?
recognition and avoidance of the triggers
monitoring of symptoms
improving dosages
adherence to medication
What is an asthma action plan and what should it include?
• Can be used to monitor the long-term use of medications and improve compliance
o Plan should be reviewed regularly and adjusted according to progression of the disease
o Must be explained to the patient and included in the decisions on the action plan to take into consideration individual preferences
• Plan should include:
o Guidance for identifying signs of worsening control
o Clear instructions for how to responds to any given chance in asthma control
What do asthma self management education programs include?
o Written information about asthma
o Monitoring of asthma control, based on PEF and/or symptoms
o A written asthma action plan
o Regular review by health professional (doctor, nurse or asthma educator) This will include a review of medications, assessment of asthma control, discussion of triggers, consideration of lifestyle choices and discussion and provision of feedback to the patient about their overall control of asthma
Who else other than the patient should recieve education about asthma?
family and friends
What is COPD?
• an umbrella term is used to describe chronic lung disease that cause limitations in lung airflow.
characterised by progressive airway narrowing
COPD is one of the most common diseases in the world
What are symptoms of COPD?
Breathlessness excessive sputum chronic cough Wheeze Sleep disturbance Fatigue poor appetite clubbed fingers Stress incontinence
