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What is Asthma?
- AKA reactive airway disease
- Chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway
- Cause—allergens
- Signs Bronchoconstriction (Inflamation due to immune response
- Airway inflammation, edema
- Mucus plug (also due to immune response)
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Anti-inflamatory Rx for Asthma
- Glucocorticoids (prednisone)
- Cromolyn (Intal)
- Best if used locally.
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Triggers for Asthma
- Cold air
- exercise
- tobacco smoke
- other smoke
- pollutants
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Goals of Therapy
Use of long acting Rx:provide prophalactic effect->control
Use of short term Rx-Treat emergent symptoms->Rescue
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Inhalation drug therapy
- Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs)
- --Wait 1 minute between puffs. 10% reaches lungs
- --Dry powder inhalers (DPIs). 20% reaches lungs
- Nebulizer: turns Rx to gas->more thorough inhalation. More side effects, takes time to prepare. Nurse's job is to make sure treatment is done, document that it was done, and evaluate efficacy.
- Spacers: makes inhalers work better. 21% of Rx will reach lungs vs. 9% w/out spacer.
- With any kind of inhaler, it needs to be clean. It's a breeding ground for yeast. Also rinse out your mouth afterwards.
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