Asthma

 Asthma

Margaret 7g Science Ms Gurmeet Sharma 

Introduction about Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma causes recurring periods of wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. The coughing often occurs at night or early in the morning. Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts during childhood.

Causes of Asthma

Although the cause of asthma is unknown, a number of things that can increase your chances of developing the condition have been identified. These include:

• Childhood exposure to tobacco smoke, particularly if your mother also smoked during pregnancy  
• Airborne allergens, such as pollen, animal dander, mold, cockroaches and dust mites
• Respiratory infections, such as the common cold
• Air pollutants and irritants, such as smoke
• Cold air
• Genetic 

Symptoms of Asthma

Some common symptoms of Asthma are:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness or pain
• Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
• A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling (wheezing is a common sign of asthma in children)
• Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu

Treatment for Asthma  

What is Inhalers?

Inhalers deliver medicine you need straight to your lungs. It goes without saying then, that they're used for conditions which affect your lungs, of which by far the most common are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Because the medicine goes straight to where it's needed, you only need tiny amounts compared to the dose you'd need to take of the same medicine in tablet form. That means fewer side effects and more effective treatment - as long as you take them properly. 

How it works ?

Asthma medicines are usually given by inhalers – devices that deliver medication directly into the lungs as you breathe in. This is an effective way of taking an asthma medicine as most goes straight to the lungs, with very little ending up elsewhere in the body. Each inhaler works in a slightly different way. You should have training from your GP or nurse in how to use your device or how to help your child use theirs. This should be checked at least once a year. Some inhalers are pressurised canisters – similar to a spray deodorant or an air freshener. You press the inhaler while breathing in, so the vapour containing the medication can pass into your lungs.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF INHALERS

ADVANTAGES-

• Smaller aerosol doses than those for systemic treatment
• Medicine will not be wasted by the digestive system
• Rapid onset of drug action -Medicine does not need to pass though the digestive system and the circulatory system to reach its target
• Drug delivery is targeted to the respiratory system for local pulmonary effect

  DISADVANTAGES-

• There are many variables that affect the dose of aerosol drug delivered to the airways, and the compounding effects make dose estimation and dose reproducibility very difficult- Determination of the true dose to target part is very difficult. Many factors can affect the dose estimation. For example, the respiratory flow rate.
• Patients need professional guidance how to properly use use the device.
• Practitioners do not have sufficient standardized technical information of aerosol producing devices
• Practitioners can be confused by the number of device types and variability of use.

ECONOMIC FACTOR CONNECTED TO TREATMENT

This treatment caused economic factor since not all countries can afford to buy inhalers for its citizens as it is expensive. South Africa has the world’s fourth highest asthma death rate among five to 35 year olds.  Of the estimated 3.9 million South Africans with asthma, 1.5% die of this condition annually.Asthma was linked to 3,447 deaths (about 9 per day) in 2007.In the United States, for example, annual asthma care costs (direct and indirect) exceed US$6 billion.At present Britain spends about US$1.8 billion on health care for asthma and because of days lost through illness. In Australia, annual direct and indirect medical costs associated with asthma reach almost US$460 million. I think to solve this problem, we should spread awareness to people that we should stop polluting the air because i think that the society are lack of awareness.

Bibliography

•  "Asthma." Symptoms. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/basics/symptoms/con-20026992>. 
• Feature, Heather HatfieldWebMD. "Asthma Rescue Inhaler Types, Uses, Effects, and More." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016. <http://www.webmd.com/asthma/features/asthma-rescue-inhaler-cornerstone-asthma-treatment>. 
• "Asthma in the US." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 03 May 2011. Web. 28 Mar. 2016. <http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/asthma/>.
• "Aerosols in the Health Care Field." » Section 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016. <http://aerosol.ees.ufl.edu/healthaerosol/section02-1.html>.