Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Is An Umbrella Term Used To
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Is An Umbrella Term Used To
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Is An Umbrella Term Used To
part of aging. In the early stages of the disease, you may not notice the symptoms.
COPD can develop for years without noticeable shortness of breath. You begin to see
Asthma (AZ-ma) is a chronic (long-term) 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
Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts during childhood. In the
United States, more than 25 million people are known to have asthma. About 7 million
To understand asthma, it helps to know how the airways work. The airways are
tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs. People who have asthma have inflamed
airways. The inflammation makes the airways swollen and very sensitive. The airways
airways, causing less air to flow into the lungs. The swelling also can worsen, making
the airways even narrower. Cells in the airways might make more mucus than usual.
Mucus is a sticky, thick liquid that can further narrow the airways.
This chain reaction can result in asthma symptoms. Symptoms can happen each
time the airways are inflamed. Asthma has no cure. Even when you feel fine, you still
However, with today's knowledge and treatments, most people who have asthma are
able to manage the disease. They have few, if any, symptoms. They can live normal,
active lives and sleep through the night without interruption from asthma. If you have
asthma, you can take an active role in managing the disease. For successful, thorough,
and ongoing treatment, build strong partnerships with your doctor and other health care
providers.
Filipinos are suffering from asthma, yet 98 percent of Filipino asthma patients continue
“This means that asthma patients will only use medication when they have attacks
believing that as long as there are no attacks they will be okay. As such, they believe
that it is enough that they have available medicines to be taken on an as-needed basis,”
shares Dr. Sylvia Yang, World Asthma Day committee chair of the Philippine College of
Client had childhood disease such chicken pox and common colds in her
elementary days. She also had mumps that her mother uses “Tina” with vinegar to
manage it. According to the patient these intervention was effective to her because
her mumps was cured. In her current age she still experienced fever, cough and
common colds to manage those diseases she took paracetamol, and neozep. Her
diseases commonly lasted within 3 to 4 days. If untreated with this regimen she then
goes to albularyo.
She did not suffer from any injuries or accidents before. She does not experience
any operation. Client does not complete her immunization. According to Public
Health Nursing that the commitment of our country to Universal Child Immunization
The client had her asthma when she was 7 years old. Her disease triggers when
the weather is either hot or cold and also when she was doing physical activity like
Last October 2016 the client experienced difficulty of breathing and chest pain.
She manage it by drinking Salbutamol tablet 2mg. upon taking the medication after a
few minutes she then feels relieved and can breathe normally.
IV. CAUSES
Doctors have identified the two main conditions that cause asthma symptoms:
Inflammation
With asthma, the inside walls of the airways are swollen, or inflamed. This
inflammation makes the air passages particularly sensitive to irritants and asthma
triggers. The swelling narrows the air passages, making it difficult for air to pass
Airway constriction
When the airways come into contact with certain asthma triggers, the
muscles around the airways tighten. This causes the air passages to become
even narrower. It also causes a tight feeling in the chest, or feels like a rope is
being tightened around the chest. Mucus can get lodged in the narrowed
Asthma triggers
The triggers that cause the inflammation and airway constriction can vary
asthma.
smoke
V. RISK FACTORS
Family history
If one of the parents has asthma, then there is a greater risk of developing
asthma.
Gender and age
Asthma is more common in children than adults. Boys are more likely to
develop asthma than girls. Risks are equal for men and women for adult-onset
asthma.
Allergies
dust
pet dander
mold
toxic chemicals
Smoking
Cigarette smoke irritates the airways. Smokers have a high risk of asthma.
Air pollution
pollution raises the risk for asthma. Those who grew up or live in urban areas
Obesity
Children and adults who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk of
asthma. Although the reasons are unclear, some experts point to low-grade
asthma.
symptoms late in life following many symptoms free years. Others may
experience symptoms for the first time as an elderly adult (adult onset asthma).
Still others may have an onset of asthma related to a specific trigger such as
individual with other medical problems that can produce similar symptoms and
therefore the appropriate treatment is often delayed until the correct diagnosis is
made.
VII. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Atopy:
Predisposition to allergic hypersensitivity in airways
conjunctivitis Atopic
dermatitis
Airway obstruction
hypoxemia
ASTHMA
LEGEND:
Effect Disease
Continuation Progression
VIII. REVIEW OF SYSTEM
A. Functional Ability
Below is the table for Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living for
measuring the independency of the client.
INTERPRETATION:
Even though patient A.H experience body weakness due to oldness she
still pushes herself to at least do some of her daily routine by herself. She still
wants to bath, dress, feed and going to toilet alone and also she does not need
walking because there might be possible injury that may occur while walking like
Vital signs
back pain
Step 1. Ask the patient to repeat three unrelated words, such as “ball,” “dog,”
and “window.”
Step 2. Ask the patient to draw a simple clock set to 10 minutes after eleven
o'clock (11:10). A correct response is drawing of a circle with the numbers
placed in approximately the correct positions, with the hands pointing to the 11
and 2.
Step 3. Ask the patient to recall the three words from Step 1. One point is
given for each item that is recalled correctly.
Interpretation
0 Normal Positive
0 Abnormal Positive
1 Normal Negative
1 Abnormal Positive
2 Normal Negative
2 Abnormal Positive
3 Normal Negative
3 Abnormal Negative
Adapted with permission from Ebell MH. Brief screening instruments for dementia in
primary care. Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(6):500, with additional information from
reference 47.
D. Socio-environmental Circumstances
The client was living with her eldest son’s house for 25 years. According to
her she was happy and contented with her situation right now. Living with his son
together with her grandchildren makes her feels happy and it makes her
stronger. According to her she was still able to go outside and talk with her
friends. And also she was able to go in their barangay for zumba but according to
the client she was not joining in the exercise she only sitting and watching
because she was easily fatigue and had difficulty of breathing whenever doing a
long movement. But if she can do some exercise while sitting she was
performing it. This activity makes her relaxed and happy because she was able
IX. TREATMENT
Prevent chronic asthma symptoms and asthma attacks during the day and night
Maintain normal activity levels, including exercise and other physical activities.
Have no or the least side effects while getting the best medications.
Treating asthma in the elderly is complicated due to interactions among effects of aging,
clearly between asthma and COPD, especially in patients who have smoked.
Patients with COPD often have a reversible component to their condition, and
asthma medications may relieve some symptoms and improve the patient's
quality of life.
Patient education and asthma management plans for elderly patients should take
memory problems, loss of coordination and muscle strength that make it difficult
in the elderly. It is important to ask what other medications the elderly patient with
All patients need to have regular visits scheduled for their asthma. Older people
need to have a written Asthma Action Plan that tells them exactly what to do to
prevent and treat asthma symptoms. The plan should be in large print, if
Elderly patients may need assistance in order to keep their asthma under control.
stress.
elderly patients with asthma. Normal lung function may either be unattainable or
Because compliance with multiple therapies – for both asthma and coexisting
diseases and conditions – may be difficult, elderly patients often need special
The potential for drug interactions is greater in elderly patients with asthma
disease.
o Corticosteroids in high doses may reduce bone mineral content and may
compromise the effort and perceptual and motor skills required for accurate
measurements.
Avoidance of environmental triggers, including tobacco smoke and other airborne
irritants to which the patient is sensitive, is useful for many elderly patients with
asthma.
It is important that physicians have a regular follow-up visit with their patients with
asthma. This should be done at least yearly. The following chart provides the
basic elements of a follow-up visit for asthma with a doctor or asthma educator.
3. Try to work out any barriers that stand in the patient's way
College of Nursing
A Case Analysis
Gerontology: Asthma
Submitted by:
Jinkee G. Bacsa
BSN 4-1
Submitted to:
December 6, 2017