This document provides an overview of bronchial asthma. It defines asthma as a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by reversible airflow obstruction that causes symptoms like coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that results in recurrent episodes of airflow obstruction that are usually reversible. The document discusses triggers of asthma and lists diagnostic tests like pulmonary function tests, serum immunoglobulin E tests, and computed tomography scans. It outlines the medical management goals for asthma and discusses drug therapy, dietary management, and surgical options. Nursing management of asthma includes patient education, activity pacing, oxygen therapy, and teaching about asthma triggers and proper inhaler usage.
3. DEFINITION
• ASTHMA IS DEFINED AS A CHRONIC
INFLAMMATORY DISORDER OF THE
AIRWAYS CHARACTERISED BY
REVERSIBLE AIRFLOW OBSTRUCTION
CAUSING COUGH,WHEEZE , CHEST
TIGHTNESS AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH
[HASLETT ET.AL – 1999]
4. CONTD……….
• ASTHMA IS A CHRONIC
INFLAMMATORY LUNG DISEASE THAT
RESULTS IN RECURRENT EPISODES OF
AIRFLOW OBSTRUCTION BUT IT’S
USUALLY REVERSIBLE
[LEWIS – 2008 ]
14. MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
GOALS
TO CONTROL /ELIMINATE CHRONIC SYMPTOMS
TO ATTAIN NORMAL LUNG FUNCTION
RESTORE NORMAL LEVEL OF ACTIVITY
TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FREQUENT ACUTE CARE
HOSPITALIZATIONS
TO REDUCE SIDEEFFECTS OF MEDICATIONS
TO REDUCE RECURRENT EXACERBATIONSS
sss
17. CONTD ..
• DIETARY MANAGEMENT :-LOW MAGNESIUM , HIGH
AMOUNT OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES , INCLUDE
OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS AND ANTIOXIDANTS , REDUCE
WEIGHT
• COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES
