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Nursing Diagnosis for Asthma

Nursing Diagnosis for Asthma

Asthma is a very serious condition so everyone should be aware of the symptoms. Asthma is a common respiratory disease that affects a person’s airways. Asthma affects the individuals ability to breathe normally and can cause tightness in the chest, coughing and wheezing and shortness of breath, in more serious cases it can trigger asthma attacks that can be life threatening to the individual.
Around 7 percent of the US population has asthma, ranging from mild to chronic types. During an asthma attack, the bronchi constricts, obstructing the airflow. In chronic cases, it can cause long term lung inflammation.

When the bronchial tubes are constricted there is less room| for air to flow and you then have trouble breathing naturally. The airways in asthma sufferers can be sensitive and irritable, which means that a trigger can cause the airways to react and start the onset of symptoms. Such triggers vary, but usually it will be animal hair, dust/smoke and pollen.

There are a number of cases of asthma where the symptoms are so severe that they can be life-threatening if not controlled. Having access to the best medications which can be swiftly applied is necessary, which is why a lot of asthma sufferers carry inhalers that can easily dispense Salbutamol and relieve symptoms quickly. Long lasting drug treatments can also lessen the seriousness of attacks when they take place, so make sure that any medicine prescriptions are adhered to rigorously. These medicines are dispensed via the inhalers.

In mild cases, asthma may only manifest with just a few sneezes; though most asthma attacks usually go with wheezing, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and coughing. These symptoms can be compounded by flu or colds and difficulty sleeping at night due to coughing. Asthma triggers vary from person to person. Allergens like dust, pollen and mold, sudden changes in temperature, stress, exercise, and air pollution can trigger an asthma attack. Early signs of asthma include irregular breathing, coughing, difficulty speaking, plus stuffy nose, fatigue, and itchy throat.

When it comes to treating Asthma symptoms, there are many choices available, from inhalers and medications to steroids and anti-inflammatory’s. A nebulizer may be prescribed by your physician if symptoms are particularly bad. A nebulizer is a machine that allows the drugs normally taken as a liquid or through an inhaler to be converted to a mist that you breathe in using a mask for easy and quick absorption.

Nursing Diagnosis for Asthma

7 Nursing Diagnosis for Asthma

1. Ineffective Airway Clearance
2. Fatigue
3. Imbalanced Nutrition: Less than Body Requirements
4. Deficient Fluid Volume
5. Anxiety
6. Interrupted Family Processes
7. Deficient Knowledge

Source : http://nursesnanda.blogspot.com/2012/01/nanda-asthma.html