Course: Health
Unit: Physical Health – Preventing Disease
Section: Chronic Disease
Tutorial: Asthma
Location of Tutorial (unit, section, page): 4.4.4
<Health_4.4.3.1.1.mp3>
“Asthma is a non-infectious disease of the
airways that affects people of all ages. Asthma
occurs when an allergen or other environmental
trigger causes the airways to constrict,
limiting airflow to the lungs. The exact causes
of asthma are relatively unknown, but many
people inherit asthma through genetics or
develop asthma through environmental exposures.
Some people inherit allergies from their
parents; these allergies can trigger asthma
symptoms or attacks.”
<Health_4.4.3.1.2.mp3>
“What are some of the signs and symptoms of
asthma or an asthma attack? Click the button
below for some answers.”
<Health_4.4.3.2.1.mp3>
“Since asthma reduces the amount of air a person
can breathe in, someone with asthma might show
some of these signs: shortness of breath,
wheezing, tightness in the chest and coughing.
If you see someone showing these signs, you
should always approach the person to see if 911
needs to be called.”
© KC Distance Learning
<Health_4.4.3.3.1.mp3>
“An asthma attack can be minor or major. Slight
attacks cause shortness of breath and wheezing.
Major attacks can result in hospitalization or
death. An attack is often triggered by an
activity or by something in the environment. Can
you think of some possible triggers for asthma
attacks? Click below to check your answers.”
<Health_4.4.3.4.1.mp3>
“Asthma can surface as an occasional brief
attack, or it can be a lifetime condition. To
treat short term attacks, doctors can prescribe
inhalers that contain bronchodilators.
Bronchodilators are drugs that help open up the
muscles of the airways. For people suffering
long term asthma, doctors often prescribe
steroid pills or inhalers that help lessen the
effects of periodic attacks and sometimes help a
person avoid an attack altogether.”
Pronunciation for bronchodilator: [brong-kohdahy-ley-ter, -di-]
<Health_4.4.3.4.2.mp3>
“On the next page, you will be able to test
your understanding of asthma.”
© KC Distance Learning