Question

Ruta is a 36 years old female with a weight of 60kg. She was admitted to the hospital on 15/04/2020. She was just getting home from her gardening and she just felt uneasy to breathe. She has been noticing for a while that she is having trouble in breathing and her chest tightens. She is also having coughing with mucus. She said because of shortness of breath (SOB), sometimes she is not able to speak in full sentence. She also stays awake occasionally in the night because of SOB and wheezing. Her past medical histories were hypercholesterolemia and asthma. She has no known drug and food allergy. She is working occasionally now and is living alone. She is a smoker and drinks occasionally. She has no known family history. The Emergency Department (ED) doctor has diagnosed her with Exacerbation of Asthma.

She is on salbutamol 200mcg as required.

Question

Education of asthmatics is important in managing asthma. What advice would you give your person/client in respect to?

• Adminstration of the drug (Salbutamol)

• The preventative measures they can take to avoid an asthma attack

Answer 1

Education of managing asthma: There is no cure for Asthma, but can be controlled with effective asthma treatment and management. The following steps to be followed:

• Avoid triggers of asthma that is stimuli that irritate and inflame that airways for eg dust, pollens can irritate the airways and cause asthma attacks.
• Short term medications should be used to relieve symptoms
• People with Persistent symptoms must take a long term medications daily

Administration of the drugs(salbutamol): The following instructions should be kept in mind while using a metered dose inhaler.

• The inhaler should be shaken vigorously before taking the puffs
• The best position for inhalation is sitting upright or standing
• The inhaler should be held in upright position
• Hold the mouth piece in the mouth forming a seal
• While taking the puffs hold the breath fo 5 secs and then breath normally
• Patients should be instructed the proper technique of the inhaler and children should always be supervised by the adults.

Preventive measures:   The following measures are important to prevent Asthma

• Identify the Asthma triggers and avoid it.
• If you have any allergies always try to stay away from allergies.
• Avid smoke of any kind. Limit the use of tobacco,incense , fireworks.
• Prevent cold.Aviod contacts with people who have flu or cold symptoms.
• Get vaccinated with flu shots yearly
• Take asthma medications as prescribed
• Always follow asthma action plan.