Nursing care plan for Asthma

 Asthma is a lung disease in which you have a swollen and inflamed airway. It produces excess mucus that coagulates and blocks the airways. It leads to Asthma attacks. If you get asthma, you suffer from -

• Wheezing

• Shortness of breath

• Coughing, that worsens during cold or flu

• Chest tightness or pain

• Difficulty while talking

• Anxiety and fatigue

• Trouble sleeping

• Fast breathing

• Coughing while doing exercise or while you talk

Asthma is chronic and has no cure. For some people, it may be normal. But, in most people, it is life-threatening. 

Types of Asthma 

1. Allergic Asthma - there are many allergies that trigger your asthma. That is when you’re exposed to pollution, cigarette smoke, fumes, pets, pollen, dust, mites, and molds. You can avoid being in a polluted area or use face or surgical masks and wear gloves. Clean and wash your belongings frequently with disinfectants. If you’re a pet lover, then you can vacuum your pets regularly to avoid hair fall, clean and wash them with soap and water to avoid dandruff, and try to deny your pets access to your bedroom.

2. Occupational asthma - you get this at your workplace. For example, if you’re working in a hotel, you get asthma when you use flour or when you’re exposed to flame. 

If you work at a construction site, the environment around you might trigger asthma. You can’t escape from the pollution at your workplace But, wearing masks, gloves, and frequent handwashing could prevent you from getting infected via dust and germs.

3. Seasonal asthma - your asthma can worsen during the winter and rainy seasons. Because you are more vulnerable to cold or flu than a non-asthmatic person. Prevent yourself from sitting near the fireplace. Keep a consistent temperature and humidity level in your home. Exercise indoors and do breathing exercises.

4. Exercise asthma - when you do strenuous exercise, your airways become narrow and tight. At that time, you could get coughs, sneezes, and wheezing. Avoid doing heavy exercises. Swimming is the most recommended exercise as it is less likely to cause asthma. Other than that you can do short-distance walking and running, indoor cycling, and gentle hiking.

Asthma in children

Childhood asthma or Pediatric asthma is the same as adult asthma. When your child has asthma, his/her airways get swollen or inflamed more easily. Even children without asthma are susceptible to cold and flu. So, asthma-affected children can get sick very quickly, whenever they are exposed to viral infections causing cold, fever, or their airways get blocked with excess mucus.

During winter or fall, their asthma aggravates and they get wheezing and breathing troubles very frequently. When your child’s asthma intensifies, he/she gets continuous coughing. During sports activities or even playing with their friends in an outdoor environment, they have fast breathing and wheezing.

How to take care of your child during asthma?

If your child suffers from fast breathing or wheezing and it doesn’t stop within a few minutes, then he/she needs emergency medical treatment. Your doctor would advise a  blood test, chest X-ray, and allergic test to diagnose the causes. 

Depending on the severity of the disease, your doctor would prescribe two types of medicines. If your child’s asthma is less severe, then he/she should always be accompanied by an inhaler. Your child should use it whenever there is a shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and other breathing ailments.

If your child’s asthma is a chronic one with inflamed airways, then he/she needs to take medicines as advised by your doctor.

Preventing your child from symptoms

As asthma is a life-threatening condition, you need to be very careful and cautious in caring for your child. But don’t worry, you can do this with some patients and love. You can take some simple steps to safeguard your child.

• Keep all the household chemicals and pesticides out of your child’s vicinity.

• Vacuum clean and mop your house with disinfectant cleaners twice weekly.

• Use only washable mattresses and pillows to get rid of germs, mites, and molds.

• Check whether your child always has an inhaler.

• Educate your child on the necessity of using the inhaler, particularly during sports activities.

• Avoid taking him/her to a polluted outdoor area.

• Do not leave your child alone, especially during the night.

Asthma in the elderly

It is most common in older people and it would be relentless and life-threatening, if not treated immediately. Asthma in the elderly is mostly underdiagnosed and the doctors often mistake it for congestive heart failure or chronic bronchitis.

If you have an elderly with adulthood asthma who had a temporary solution during their younger age, may likely to get back the disease in their old age as well. People with sinus trouble may develop asthma when they become old. Environmental allergies can also be the cause. Chain smokers at a young age can also get asthma.

Nursing Care for Asthma in the seniors

Your elderly asthma patients are more prone to develop lung infections and excess fluid build-up. You should provide regular monitoring and vaccinating them whenever they get breathing issues and wheezing troubles. You can also make changes to their lifestyle to maintain control of these ailments. Long-term monitoring and treatment are essential. 

You can also seek the help of a trusted health care partner or caregiver who could give complete assistance at all times. With Antara Senior Care Services, you could provide them with personalized care at your place with dedicated doctors and committed nurses, who see every detail of their medical needs.