Steemit Learning Challenge-S21W4; Asthma"

What's Asthma? Write in your own words after getting knowledge from the lesson post

Asthma is defined as respiratory disease which is the chronic condition and it is affecting airway in lungs and due to this disease airways of a person becomes inflamed narrow in size so passage of passing air becomes reduced that's why it cause problem during breath. When anyone have attack of asthma then muscles of airways become tighten and mucus production become enhance which again block air flow.

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Person who suffer from asthma appears with the following symptoms;

• Patient suffering from asthma will appear with whistling or wheezing sound when he will breath out.
• Patient will feel increase in cough at night time or in early morning.
• Patient will feel shortness of breath or even in sitting position he or she will feel winded.
• Patient will feel a tightening pain in chest.

There can be different factors by which asthma can be triggered;

• This disease can be triggered by different allergens such as dust, pollens etc.
• This disease can be trigger if you suddenly encounter with respiratory infection such as common cold.
• If you encounter with some of the air pollutants like smoke smog or any other strong chemical then it can be triggered.
• This disease can be triggered when you are having a little or too much exertion or when you are going through and emotional or stressful situation.

Asthma cannot be treated 100% but different medications ,lifestyle changes ,exercises and avoiding triggers can give you a good management if you are willing for having a proper treatment and self care.

How would you diagnose a asthma? Any clinical investigation or assessment tests?

When you have to diagnose asthma then you should pass through clinical evaluation medical history of patient physical examination of patient and some of the diagnostic tests so here I am describing below that how you will go step by step through all these;

Clinical evaluation

• You will ask about symptoms that are you feeling any wheezing,whistling ,coughing ,shortness of breath, chest pain or chest tightness like symptoms.
• You will ask that is there someone in your family who is suffering from asthma currently for who was suffering from asthma.
• After that I will focus on identification of pattern of symptoms that how frequently the symptoms are coming.

Physical examination

• I will use a pathoscope for listening breathing sound of patient so that I may assess that is there any abnormality in sound or not.
• After that I will check for signs that is there any tightness of chest is present or not.

Diagnostic tests

• Spirometry will be performed as a diagnostic test for the measurement of lungs functioning by making a proper assessment of air flow and volume.
• There will be forced expiratory volume and forced by capacity measurement for assessing functioning of lungs.
• Peak expiratory flow test will be performed as a diagnostic test for the measurement of higher rate at which air is expelling from lungs.
• Methacholine challenge test is also one of the most important diagnostic test for assessment of airways response to a substance which can trigger symptoms of asthma which is a chronic disease.
• Allergy testing would also be one of the most important diagnostic test for identification of allergens that can trigger symptoms of asthma.
• Pulmonary functioning test is also one of the most important diagnostic test to check lungs function in detail.
• Chest x-rays maybe performed for ruling out conditions like asthma.

Diagnosis criteria

Diagnosis of this chronic condition asthma can be made by the following considerations;

• By assessing symptoms if these are present.
• By assessing obstruction of airways or hyper responsiveness by implementation of spirometry and methacholine challenge test.

Try to practice at least 3 exercises that you have learned from the lesson

https://youtube.com/shorts/BnChc_jqs9g?si=i6C-uzCz7IQ0-Onn

Pursed lip breathing

I performed it for strengthening of my breathing control and maintained my lip posture.

https://youtube.com/shorts/kv7QqsSTDzk?si=rQHZvXHsl-WYf8Q6

Diaphragmatic breathing

I performed it by keeping hand at diaphragm and at chest for diaphragmatic strength.

https://youtube.com/shorts/MA5ueKdS_rU?si=2r6aXjXmCDq8aFkE

Chest stretch

I performed it by extending my neck and by keeping my pelvis straight, facing my arms posteriorly and stretching chest shoulders and neck.

Share your review after performing these exercises either on yourself, healthy individual or patient

I am grading each exercise according to its effectiveness at me,it's ease to perform and comfort level I felt in each one by one;

Pursed lip breathing

• Effectiveness: 8/10
• Ease of use: 9/10
• Comfort level: 8/10

This exercise was helpful for me in slowing down breathing, increasing lung volume, and strengthening my diaphragm. I observed more breathing control.

Chest stretch

• Effectiveness: 7.5/10
• Ease of use: 8.5/10
• Comfort level: 7/10

This exercise is helpful for me in improvement of lung expansion and relaxing of chest muscles. I observed enhanced chest mobility and reduction of chest stiffness or tightness.

Diaphragmatic breathing

• Effectiveness: 9/10
• Ease of use: 8/10
• Comfort level: 9/10

This exercise was helpful for strengthening my diaphragm, improvement in my lung functioning and overall breathing. I observed significant improvements in controlling my breathing, lung volume but patient will feel significant reduction in shortness of breath.As I am not a patient so I felt these things.

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