Bronchial asthma - prevention

Bronchial asthma is a disease that is characterized by airway damage as a result of exposure to allergic stimuli. Usually it is chronic. The disease causes a lot of trouble in everyday life, so it is very important to know about the methods of preventing bronchial asthma. This will help the maximum amount of time to avoid attacks of this ailment, and also to alleviate the condition at the time of their manifestation.

• Symptoms of the disease
• Primary prevention of the disease
• Primary prevention in children
• Secondary disease prevention
• Tertiary prevention
• The role of the nurse in the prevention of disease

Symptoms of the disease

Any malaise is better to begin to treat at early stages, including bronchial asthma. The first signs that are observed in this disease:

• severe shortness of breath even without physical exertion;
• suffocation;
• dry cough;
• shallow breathing with prolonged exhalation;
• rales at the time of inspiration or expiration.

Important to remember!If you experience such ailments, you should immediately contact a specialist for help!

Primary prevention of the disease

This type of prevention is aimed at preventing the development of the disease in the early stages. To begin with, you need to eliminate the external stimulus, which causes an asthmatic attack. The greatest probability of the development of the disease is observed in such groups of persons:

• people with a genetic predisposition to the disease;
• smokers with experience;
• Persons whose professional activities are related to direct contact with chemicals or with a permanent presence in a dusty room;
• people suffering from chronic bronchitis.

In order to avoid the development of the disease in such situations, it is required to adhere to certain rules, namely:

• keep cleanliness and order in the place of residence;
• not to have pets;
• observe the basic rules of hygiene;
• For cleaning use only hypoallergenic cleaners and detergents;
• get rid of such addiction as smoking;
• to eat properly and regularly;
• refrain from using air fresheners and aerosol hygiene products;
• take medication only as directed by the doctor;
• to live an active lifestyle.

Important to remember!Primary prophylaxis of asthma requires timely treatment of acute respiratory diseases!

Primary prevention in children

Prevention of bronchial asthma in children is aimed at carrying out all sorts of activities that will help prevent the onset of the disease. This disease is particularly susceptible to children under 1 year. This is more associated with lure. Most often, the baby's body gets allergens, along with food, causing bronchial asthma. To protect the child from this illness it is possible, strictly observing such rules:

• exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months;
• timely and gradual introduction of complementary foods from 6 months;
• daily walks in the fresh air;
• regular wet cleaning of the room in which the baby is.

Also it should be remembered, from an early age it is required to accustom the child to the elementary rules of hygiene.

Secondary disease prevention

The main task of secondary prevention of the disease is to prevent acute attacks of suffocation. This is especially true of people with a genetic predisposition to asthma, as well as those who have had attacks earlier.

Preventing seizures includes such rules:

• in due time contact the attending physician and strictly observe all his recommendations and appointments;
• eliminate all addictions;
• avoid eating foods containing preservatives and other chemicals;
• every day to do a wet cleaning at home;
• avoid close contact with pets;
• timely treatment of respiratory diseases;
• perform physiotherapy procedures to maintain the respiratory system as normal;
• to live an active lifestyle.

Important to remember!To prevent attacks of suffocation requires daily outdoor activities! But in the warm season it is required to avoid the slightest contact with flowering plants.

Tertiary prevention

This form provides for simultaneous treatment and prevention of asthma. It is aimed at alleviating the condition of the patient during the period of exacerbation. The main condition is the elimination of the external stimulus. Therefore, it is very important for asthmatics to know: what exactly causes an attack. It can be such irritants:

• dust;
• flowering plants and pollen;
• animal hair;
• certain food products.

The global strategy of treatment and prevention provides for the constant use of medications to maintain the body in a normal state. To do this, they use such medicines for prevention:

1. Inhalational hormonal agents. They have an anti-inflammatory effect. Soothe the respiratory system at the time of suffocation. The most effective means of this group are: Bekotid, Fliksotid, Benakord, Ingakord.
2. Hormonal medications for oral administration. Are prescribed for severe disease. Applied exclusively during the period of exacerbation. To ease the condition, such drugs are used: Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, Triamcinolone, Methylprednisolone, and their analogues.
3. Bronchodilating drugs. Are directed on clearing of symptoms at an exacerbation of disease. Contribute to the dynamic elimination of an attack of suffocation. The most common bronchodilators are: Berotek, Astmopent, Salbutamol, Ventolin, as well as drugs with a similar effect on the patient's body.

Important to remember!People suffering from bronchial asthma must strictly adhere to the dosage of drugs! This will help to avoid dangerous consequences and to act on the body correctly. Therefore, independently choose the drug, and especially its dosage, is contraindicated.

The role of the nurse in the prevention of disease

Not only the attending physician is an important specialist in improving the condition of a patient with bronchial asthma. The work of a nurse is also an integral part on the road to normalization of health. Its actions include the following important events:

1. Detection of cardiac dysfunction. Control of the heart in this disease is performed by a nurse.
2. Periodic measurement of blood pressure. In asthmatics, this indicator is significantly reduced.
3. Teaching the patient proper breathing and preventive exercises. This helps to avoid the attacks for as long as possible.
4. Evaluation of the results of the treatment. If the prescribed therapy is not effective, the nurse directs to the attending physician or prescribes the use of other medications, having previously agreed this option with a specialist.

Particularly important is the work of the nurse in the prevention of bronchial asthma in children. After all, not every parent can find out in time the health problems of his child.