Asthma Asthma Jacob Frye SWVCTC Nursing Asthma Abstract Asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases in America. 7.7% of adults live with asthma daily, while the rate is higher in children at 8.4%. Asthma costs the public $81.9 billion yearly (AAFA, 2019). Asthmatics are especially vulnerable as a population due to the many environmental triggers that can serve as the onset to an attack. One of the many challenges faced by asthmatics is their participation in recreational sports. Although there is no definite cure for asthma, there are resources available in order to treat symptoms and prevent worsening of the disease process. Asthmatics face challenges and adversity, but with today’s medical breakthroughs, they are able to live a relatively normal life. Asthma Asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases in America. 7.7% of adults live with asthma daily, while the rate is higher in children at 8.4%. Asthma costs the public $81.9 billion yearly (AAFA, 2019). Asthma is a respiratory illness that affects the airway. Bronchospams in the bronchi of the lungs causes difficulty breathing for many patients. Some patients’ symptoms are significantly worse than others. While some asthmatics experience coughing fits, wheezing, and life-threatening respiratory symptoms that hinder daily life, many others see their asthma as a minor annoyance (Mayo Clinic, 2018). While asthma is more common in children, adults are four times more likely to die from asthma than a child. Also, asthma is the leading chronic disease in the world among children (AAFA, 2019). A vulnerable population is a group of people that for one of many reasons, their condition might be exacerbated by unnecessarily inadequate healthcare. Some of these reasons include: race, gender, lack of insurance, sexual orientation, religion, culture, socioeconomic status, children, chronically ill, elderly, pregnancy, immunocompromised patients, and people who live in areas with frequent natural disasters (CareCentrix, 2017). Asthmatic patients are considered to be chronically ill; therefore, these patients are categorized as a vulnerable population. Chronically ill patients can also face other hurdles in addition to their condition. Many insurance companies will refuse, or price gouge, chronically ill patients, forcing them to purchase lower-tier plans, or deny purchasing health insurance all together. One of the Asthma other many other reasons, such as sexual orientation, culture, or living in an area with frequent natural disasters can continue to pile onto the worries of patients classified as part of a vulnerable population. One observation that can be drawn is that asthma is the number one reason for a child to miss school, as it is reported that almost 14 million school days were missed due to asthma in 2013 alone (AAFA, 2019). Asthmatics face challenges every day, particularly children. As a child, play is an important part of psychosocial development. Learning to play and get along with others is a very important aspect of growing up. Asthmatic children are hindered at recess, as physical exercise can be a trigger for an asthma attack. Because of this, many children completely avoid team activities such as recreational sports, tag, and playground games because they do not want to be deemed “different” for having to use an inhaler. Social isolation can potentially be just a big of a problem for an asthmatic child as the asthma itself. Adults are not immune to the challenges of asthma. Doctors and dieticians most fear that adult asthmatic patients shun exercise because of the breathlessness associated with the disease. This can lead to weight gain in some patients. Doctors and dieticians also have fears for patients who cannot eat due to the strain eating causes on their respiratory condition. Furthermore, certain medications used by asthmatics are known to cause sores or thrush in a patient’s mouth, placing their nutritional status at an even higher risk (Kam, 2019). Another observation that can be made is that patient education regarding oral care can potentially lessen the risk of Asthma using asthmatic medications in relation to mouth sores. Inhaled steroids also have the side effect of an increased appetite, leading to yet another risk of weight gain. “As a group, asthmatics are overweight.” - Karen McCoy, MD Thankfully, there are resources that are available to asthmatic patients. Long-term control medications are available that can help lower the risk of an asthma attack. These medications include leukotriene modifiers, inhaled corticosteroids, theophylline, and long-acting beta agonists. Some examples of common inhaled corticosteroids include fluticasone, beclomethasone, and mometasone. There are also short-term rescue medications for when an asthma attack is currently occuring, or is imminent. These medications include intravenous and oral corticosteroids, ipratropium, and short-acting beta agonists (Mayo Clinic, 2018). There are also medications called biologics, which are medications taken alongside control medications in order to stop the biological responses causing inflammation in the lungs. Some examples of biologics are benralizumab, mepolizumab, and reslizumab (Mayo Clinic, 2018). In addition to pharmacological measures, non-pharmacological treatments are also available. One example of one of these non-pharmacological measures is a support group. Matlach and Young is one of dozens of support groups across the country that helps to provide support and education to asthmatic patients (Dunleavy, 2017). An observation that could be made about asthmatic medications is that many pharmacological options are available. Patient education can potentially be important for a nurse to implement regarding those options. Asthma Mandatory reporting is a legal requirement that some professions fall under. This legal requirement requires certain professionals to report issues of such as abused children, people with homicidal thoughts, and neglected children. Asthmatic patients do not fall under mandatory reporting, because nobody is suspected of abuse or neglect under normal circumstances. Mandatory reporting primarily exists to protect children from abusive or neglectful homes. Asthmatic patients fall under the categorization of a vulnerable population. This is due to asthma being a chronic illness. Other factors may add onto the burden of asthma on its own, such as socioeconomic status, pregnancy, and living in an area with frequent natural disasters. Asthmatic patients also face challenges throughout their lives, especially in regards to exercise and weight gain. Many avoid exercise as to not exacerbate their respiratory condition. Thankfully, resources such are long-term controllers, rescue medications, biologics, and support groups exist to help suppress symptoms and educate patients. Three observations that can be made are asthma is the number one reason for a child to miss school (AAFA, 2019), patient education regarding oral care can potentially lessen the risk of using asthmatic medications in relation to mouth sores, and many pharmacological options are available, so patient education can potentially be important for a nurse to implement regarding those options. Some populations that fall under mandatory reporting are abused children, neglected children, and people with homicidal thoughts. Asthma References AAFA. (2019, June). Retrieved February 25, 2020, from https://www.aafa.org/asthma-facts/ Asthma. (2018, September 13). Retrieved February 25, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653 Asthma medications: Know your options. (2018, September 26). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/in-depth/asthma-medications/art20045557 CareCentrix. (2019, May 31). What is a Vulnerable Population in Healthcare? Retrieved February 25, 2020, from https://www.carecentrix.com/blog/what-is-a-vulnerablepopulation Dunleavy, B. P. (2017, March 6). How a Support Group Can Help You With Your Asthma. Retrieved from https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/adult-asthma/support-groups/ Kam, K. (2019, June 22). Asthma, Weight Gain, Appetite Changes, and Nutrition. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/asthma/features/is-asthma-changing-your-appetite-orweight#1 Asthma
