Steemit Learning Challenge-S21W4; Asthma"
What's Asthma? Write in your own words after getting knowledge from the lesson post. |
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Asthma is a condition where your airways become narrow and inflamed, often producing extra mucus. This can make it hard to breathe and may cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
For some individuals, asthma is just a small issue. For others, it can be a serious problem that disrupts daily life and can even lead to a dangerous asthma attack.
Asthma cannot be cured, but you can manage its symptoms. Since asthma can change over time, it's essential to collaborate with your doctor to monitor your symptoms and modify your treatment when necessary.
To explore more, I have the basic knowledge of asthma categorized by its severity in individuals. Here, we will examine some of the most common types you might encounter regularly.
Three main types of asthma were discussed in the lecture: occupational asthma, conventional asthma, and exercise-induced asthma. We will look further to other different types...
• Occupational Asthma: This is a type of asthma that happens when people are exposed to certain conditions at work, like in factories that produce chemicals or other similar industries. For instance, cement producers are exposed to more harm by inhaling the dust from the cement in the production process and packaging process. Change of occupation is best to manage this.
• Allergic Asthma (Extrinsic Asthma): is triggered by allergens like foods, pollen. People with this type of asthma often experience high fever, eczema, and other allergic conditions. Common symptoms include difficulty breathing, coughing, and more. To manage this asthma, it is essential to avoid all allergens. I had a cousin who suffered from allergic asthma. It was a very difficult time for him because he avoided everything possible to stay safe.
• Non-Allergic Asthma (Intrinsic Asthma): Asthma can get worse due to outside factors. Things like exercise, stress, being sick, and changes in the weather can trigger an attack.
• Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA) or Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB): happens when airways narrow during or after exercise, making it hard to breathe. Cold or dry air is a key trigger for EIA, and symptoms include frequent coughing and chest discomfort. To manage this condition, it's important to warm up properly before exercising.
Asthma Symptoms and Causes
Asthma sufferers often show clear symptoms that can look like those of respiratory infections. These include:
- Tightness, pain, or pressure in the chest.
- Coughing, especially at night.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Wheezing sounds.
Not everyone with asthma will experience all these symptoms during each episode. Symptoms can vary over time and may change between asthma attacks.
How would you diagnose asthma? Any clinical investigation or assessment tests? |
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To diagnose asthma, a doctor usually considers a person's symptoms, their medical history, and test results. When diagnosing, it is important to identify the specific type of asthma based on what triggers it.
The following sections explain additional tests a doctor might perform to help diagnose asthma.
Physical examination
A proper examination of the upper respiratory system, the chest, and the skin are put in place. You can listen for wheezing, which may show an obstructed airway or asthma. Feasible allergies are also checked such as rashes etc.,Performing a lung function test to check how well the lungs are functioning. Spirometry is the most common lung function test used by healthcare providers to diagnose asthma.
During the test, a person will take a deep breath and then exhale strongly into a tube. This tube connects to a device called a spirometer, which measures how quickly air is expelled from the lungs.
There are other tests that needs to be carried out based on the severity of the asthma case.
Try to practice at least 3 exercises that you have learned from the lesson. Share images, gifs or videos while practising |
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 | Chest Stretches |
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| Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise |  |
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 | Pursed lip breathing exercise |
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Share your review after performing these exercises either on yourself, healthy individual or patient |
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After performing these exercises, I felt a new me. It was as if something entered me that made me feel lighter, free and easy. My bones were stretched out because I could hear them. The flow of airways after the breathing exercise was better than the former.
My lungs capacity was increased, I felt it when my heart beat changed and I felt a little movement throughout my body.
Thank you for understanding the lesson and sharing your assignment; I hope that you will enjoy this week's lesson and try to implement it in your life if you see any such case.
Observations
Task 1 (2.8/3)
You have shared a great knowledge about asthma, and it's causes, symptoms, types. But I will correct you that asthma is a reversible diease that can be cured completely if properly get it's treatment. I appreciate your effort.
Task 2 (3/3)
In the second question, you tell us about how you have to assess a patient by doing physical examination and history taking, performing the investigations of patients and specialized tests. Excellent.
Task 3 (2.8/4)
You try the pursed lip, diaphragmatic breathing and chest muscle (pectoralis major) stretch. But while performing breathing exercises try to make a gif to elaborate it more and other can understand easily. Secondly in pursed lip breathing you have to make a whistle like position of mouth. Remember always take steam or nebulization before performing exercises to relax your muscles & dislodge sputum that can excrete out easily. I appreciate your efforts.
Overall you made a great attempt to answer all the questions. I appreciate your efforts. But next time try to avoid the above written suggestions. Keep learning and try to implement your knowledge to the people suffering from any asthma as winter is the trigger of most the people suffering from asthma. Thank you.