explanation - asthma

Question 1

asthma explanation summary

Answer 1

what’s already known
what wants to know
physiology
pathophysiology
cause
inhalers
peak flow
acute attack
persistent symptoms
smoking
vaccinations
follow up

Question 2

triggers?

Answer 2

allergies
infections
stress
smoking
sudden temp change

Question 3

more common if?

Answer 3

family history
allergies

Question 4

problems/complications?

Answer 4

acute asthma - symptoms don’t improve when inhaler is used. if 10 puffs doesn’t relieve then call 999.

persistent symptoms - reliever used more than 3 times a week, daily activities affected, waking at night, peak flow lower than normal.

Question 5

inhalers?

Answer 5

reliever - blue, salbutamol, two puffs 30s between when short of breath.

preventer - long term, use every day

Question 6

peak flow?

Answer 6

tube blow into
measures how fast you can blow out your lungs
asthma makes this harder
monitor over time so you know what’s normal for you and know when symptoms are worse/better
check twice a day when starting/changing treatment

Question 7

other

Answer 7

review once a year
vaccinations - flu jab
smoking (are you open to stopping smoking? - leaflet)