Asthma Treatment Plans Goals and Strategies
Endotracheal intubation is performed in the setting of respiratory failure due to any cause, including respiratory failure from asthma. It is a potentially life-saving medical intervention. Patients who require endotracheal intubation are critically ill, because their lungs are unable to take in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. The intubation procedure itself can be performed in [...]
Respiratory failure develops when the lungs and respiratory system become unable to provide the body with sufficient oxygen (O2) and fail to excrete or “blow off ” accumulated carbon dioxide (CO2). When the major disturbance is primarily an inability of the respiratory system to meet the body’s oxygen (O2) requirements, then hypoxemic respiratory failure is [...]
Fatal and near-fatal asthma have been the subject of much interest and study. By obtaining as much information as possible on persons who die or almost die of asthma, we can learn how to prevent similar deaths in the future. Fatal Asthma: Risk Factors Prior history of sudden, rapidly progressive severe exacerbations Prior history of [...]
Yes, asthma can be fatal. Thousands of people die each year in the United States from uncontrolled asthma. Asthma is a highly treatable disease. Death from asthma is especially tragic because each one of those deaths is theoretically 100% preventable. Analysis of recent trends in the United States suggests that after decades of increasing, the [...]
The actual treatment you receive in the emergency department of the hospital depends on the individual characteristics of your asthma, other health conditions you may have, as well as the severity of your symptoms when you arrive in the emergency room. In general, you can expect three components to your emergency care. The first will [...]
Gemma’s comment: Emergencies can be scary. During a vacation at a popular seaside resort in the northeast, I was caught on the beach as a squall came up, blowing sand in my face and mouth. Because my children were playing happily, I delayed leaving the beach, and by the time I did, I was gasping [...]
Immunoglobulins are protein molecules that circulate in the bloodstream. They are part of the body’s immune response to a stimulus perceived as foreign, such as bacteria, parasites, or allergens. There are five classes of immunoglobulins, named G, A, M, E, and D, and abbreviated: IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, and IgD. Each class has its own [...]
How can I find out whether or not I have allergies? If I do have allergies in addition to my asthma, what types of treatment are available? A strong link between asthma and allergy has been recognized for a long time and both diagnoses frequently co-exist, as explained in Question 9. Many people believe that [...]
Referral to an asthma specialist is advised under two general circumstances: the “tricky” diagnosis, and the need for expert evaluation or treatment. When to Consult an Asthma Specialist To establish the diagnosis If your “asthma” symptoms and signs are not typical of asthma, you should obtain a referral to an asthma specialist. If you require [...]
What makes a doctor an asthma specialist and how can I find out if my physician is a specialist in asthma care? An asthma specialist is a physician who has a special interest in treating patients with asthma and who has completed postdoctoral training either in adult or pediatric lung diseases (pulmonary medicine) or in [...]
Well-controlled, stable, treated asthma does not affect the lungs’ ability to extract needed oxygen from the air we breathe. Severe exacerbations of asthma, however, have the potential to significantly interfere with the lungs’ capacity to obtain oxygen from the air around us and send it into the body. When ongoing inflammation, bronchospasm, and mucus accumulation [...]
The fundamental goal of asthma therapy is the control of all symptoms, which in turn leads to normalization of lung function and prevention of exacerbations and hospitalizations and allows for an active, healthy lifestyle. Once control is established, ongoing, successful treatment may include daily prescription medication, such as inhaled bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory medicines, a regular [...]
Gemma’s comment: My daughter and I seem to be especially sensitive to certain foods, like soy and nuts. My daughter feels that if she has a cold, the skin of some foods (e.g., peaches and eggplant) makes her throat close up. I, too, have had such symptoms, but I think that food sensitivities, which are [...]