project on “asthma”

BY: Melanie Alexraj

What is it?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that is marked by inflammation and swelling in the airways in the lungs.

Chronic-(of an illness) persisting for a long time or

constantly recurring.

How will it affect me physically? What will it do to my body?

Physical effects can range from the somewhat annoying (an occasional cough) all the way to the life-threatening (not being able to breathe). Common asthma symptoms include:

o Cough

oWheeze

o Tight Feeling in the Chest

o Shortness of Breath

o Awakening at Night from Cough or Wheeze

Asthma affects the body by limiting the flow of air into the lungs. When certain substances trigger an asthma attack, cholinergic receptors in the airways respond by tightening the muscles. This process is called bronchoconstriction. It triggers a sequence of reactions in the body, which contributes to increased inflammation and mucus secretions.

How will it affect other parts of my body?

o Respiratory System

The respiratory system of an asthmatic is more sensitive than that of a non-asthmatic to environmental irritants. When in contact with a trigger, the airways narrow and make it difficult to breathe.

o Immune System

Your immune system helps your body fight germs. According to the National Institute of Health, asthma can cause your immune system to respond sensitively to substances that would be harmless to those without asthma.

o Nervous System

According to Johns Hopkins University, research indicates that asthma can affect your nervous system. A nerve growth factor--a nervous system protein--has been found to increase sensitivity to irritants among people suffering from asthma and allergies.

Serious? Life Threatening? Survival Rate?

Yes. Asthma currently affects about 25 million people in the United States, including seven million children. More than half of people with asthma experience at least one asthma attack (a worsening of asthma symptoms) each year. These attacks lead to more than 1.7 million emergency department visits and about 450,000 hospitalizations annually.

Is there a cure? What is the treatment?

o No. Asthma is an eminently controllable illness. Indeed, for most sufferers, control is so effective that it amounts to a virtual cure. It is becoming increasingly clear that there many types of asthma--and they differ greatly in their presentation and genesis.

o Asthma is not so much "treated" as it is "controlled". As a chronic, long-term disease, there is no cure. However, there are tools and medicines to help you control asthma as well as benchmarks to gauge your progress.

How did I get it? Is it something I can overcome? Will it spread?

You're overweight. You have skin allergies. You have nasal allergies.

You have eye allergies. Your mom or dad has asthma. You have

hyperactive airways You're no stranger to tobacco smoke.

No, but you can live your life like other people Use asthma medications.

Breathe through a scarf. Avoid exercising outdoors in frigid temperatures.

Do 10-minute warm-ups and cool-downs.

Asthma is a non-contagious lung disease that causes inflammation

and restriction in the lungs and airways.

Is it common? Are there experimental treatments?

oAsthma is more common among adult women than adult men. Asthma is more common among boys than girls. Asthma is more common among children (1 in 10) than adults (1 in 12).

oAn experimental drug called dupilumab was shown to reduce asthma attacks and helped boost lung function for people with moderate to severe asthma who can't control their symptoms with conventional medicine like inhalers.

Visual Aid (picture, diagram, etc…)

Interview

oWhat affect does it have on people around you?

- It is not a contagious disease but it can be hereditary. It is a visible suffering by a dear ones which becomes a mental turmoil for the loved ones around.

oHow has it had an affect emotionally/mentally?

- As a mother, having asthma, it is not only the physical suffering that I have to go through but the fact that the day to day household activities like taking care of the family id very much affected, the fact that you cannot be around your children is enough mental suffering

Interview

oHow has it affected your lifestyle? What changes have you had to make?

-Have to avoid a lot of food, items that are allergic to me. During winter having a daily shower becomes difficult. Washing your hair becomes impossible. Going out in the breeze leads to a severe asthma attack.

oHow serious have the symptoms been?

-I have required hospitalization for nebulization and requirement of an oxygenated cylinder.

oWhat things could be done to make your life easier?

-Because I am a chronic Asthmatic with medicines I have been adviced to try to avoid everything that brings about the asthma attack which has totally crippled my way of living

Works cited

o"Asthma - Chronic Asthma - Asthma Treatment." Better Medicine. Better Medicine, n.d. Web. 06 May 2015.

o"University Of Illinois Hospital & Health Science System - Changing Medicine. For Good." Physical Effects of Asthma. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2015.

oJaslow, Ryan. "Experimental Asthma Drug Helps Untreatable Patients in Study." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 23 May 2013. Web. 06 May 2015.

o"Asthma Interwiev." Personal interview. 6 May 2015.

Thank you!