ASTHMA EDUCATION Samuel Miihlbach and Amy Huebner

Youngstown State University

What is Asthma?• Asthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways - the

tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs - to become sore and swollen. In the United States, about 20 million people have asthma. Nearly 9 million of them are children. Children have smaller airways than adults, which makes asthma especially serious for them. Children with asthma may experience wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing, especially early in the morning or at night.

Normal Airways Vs Asthma Airways

Controlling Asthma

Know Asthma TriggersMedications

Long Term ControllersQuick Relievers

Self-Monitoring Peak Flow MonitoringAction Plan

Asthma Triggers

• Many things can cause asthma, including• Allergens - mold, pollen, animals• Irritants - cigarette smoke, air pollution• Weather - cold air, changes in weather• Exercise• Infections - flu, common cold

Long Term Controller Medications

• Corticosteroids• Leukotriene Modifiers• Long-Acting Beta2-Agonists• Theophylline• Cromolyn Sodium and Nedocromil

Quick Reliever Medications

• Short-Acting Beta2-Agonists• Anticholinergics• Systemic Corticosteroids

Meter Dose Inhaler and Spacer Technique

Peak Flow Monitoring

Peak Flow Technique

Asthma Action Plan

Professional Literature• Akinbami, L., Moorman, J., Bailey, C., Zahran, H., King, M., Johnson, C., and

Liu, X. ( May 2012). Trends in Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use, and Mortality in the United States, 2001-2010. NCHS Data Brief. No.94. pages 1-3. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db94.pdf

• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. (2011). Asthma Overview. Available from http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ( May 2012). CDC’s National Asthma Control Program. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/nacp.htm

• Fanta, C., Carter, E., Stieb, E., and Haver, K. (2007). The Asthma Educator’s Handbook. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

• Healthy Homes Advisory Council for Greater Cleveland. (2011). Cuyahoga County Healthy Home Initiative. Available from: http://healthyhomesac.org/

• National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (August 2008). Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. Available from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/index.htm

• National Library of Medicine. (September 2012). Asthma in Children. Available from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/asthmainchildren.html