A Simple Guide to Asthma

A Simple Guide to Asthma
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What is asthma?
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Asthma is a common long-lasting (chronic) inflammatory disease of the lungs and airways (bronchi) that affects 5 % adults and 20% children and causes narrowing of the airtubes.

What happens during an asthma attack?
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When your airtubes are exposed to trigger factors, inflammation of the airway results.
The breathing tubes become narrowed and clogged up with mucus making breathing difficult. Inflammation may continue even though there is minimal or no symptom of asthma.

What are the symptoms of Asthma?
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Asthma is characterised by attacks of

1. breathlessness,

2.tight chest,

3.wheezing sounds and

4.coughing

These symptoms are caused by the airways becoming narrowed and inflamed.
Some people may have these symptoms all of the time.

Others may be normal between attacks.

Who is at risk of developing asthma?
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Anybody can get it at any age but it tends to run in families.
They also have an inherited tendency to develop other allergic conditions such as eczema and allergic rhinitis.
Most children, particularly those with mild asthma will be attack free by adolescence.
A small number continue to have symptoms as adults.
Yet others have their asthma symptoms reappearing only when they reach adulthood.

What causes asthma attacks?
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Asthma results from sensitive airways that react to certain trigger factors.
These triggers may be different for different people.
Avoidance of trigger factors is important.

Some common triggers are:
1.Allergens such as house-dust mites, cockroaches, animal danders, pollen, indoor moulds and foods particularly those containing sulphite.
2.Infections such as the common cold and sinus infection

3.Weather changes due to change in temperature or humidity
4.Air pollution e.g. from tobacco smoke and haze
5.Strong odours or sprays e.g. paints, varnishes, cleaning solvent fumes, perfumes, cooking fumes
6.cold air,
7.vigorous exercise
8.stress.

Attacks may be more frequent or severe in people who have a chest infection.

Avoidance of trigger factors
1.Animal dander (fur, skin of cats or dogs) Give away pet if possible. If not, prevent pet from entering the bedroom. Bathe pet weekly.
2.House-dust mites Use protective air-tight mattress covers and pillow cases. Wash bedsheets and pillow cases weekly in hot water
3.Cockroaches Do not leave garbage uncovered. Use poison baits. Use pesticide spray only when the asthmatic is out of the house.
4.Indoor moulds Reduce dampness in the house.
5.Outdoor pollens Close doors and windows and stay indoors when pollen count is highest in the afternoon.
6.Tobacco smoke and haze Avoid tobacco smoke and haze as far as possible.
7.Medication Aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and beta-blockers should be avoided.
8.Food Certain foods containing sulphites should be avoided such as shellfish and preserved foods.

What to do during an asthma attack?
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1.Stay calm. Family members or caregivers should be calm, positive and encouraging.
2.Use 2 puffs of your reliever inhaler immediately as previously instructed by your doctor.
If asthma symptoms are not relieved or wheezing returns within 4 hours, give another 2 puffs of the reliever.

3. take your asthma medications with warm water.

4. consult your family doctor if there is no improvement.
If necessary, go to the nearest hospital for help.

How serious is Asthma?
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Asthma is not generally considered by doctors to be a serious illness in most people who have it, mainly due to the mildness of symptoms and the range of very effective medicines that control these symptoms and stop asthma worsening.
Asthma does, however, have an effect on quality of life because attacks can be unpleasant and distressing and can restrict activity. Whilst most sufferers learn to live with and manage their condition, for some it can be disabling.
In exceptional cases, asthma can be life-threatening, particularly if it is not treated adequately or promptly. For some of these, an attack is so severe that it results in death.

How long does Asthma last?
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Asthma attacks come and go, with wide variation in the symptoms at different times.
Many people with asthma have problems only occasionally but others struggle with it every day. Modern medicines control and relieve symptoms and so attacks may only last a few hours or minutes, but without treatment this may go on for several days.
Some children grow out of asthma and some people are only affected at different times of the year.
However, the period of time during which people may have asthma attacks can last for many years or throughout life.

How is Asthma treated?
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There is no cure for asthma, but there are different types of medicines that will help to keep it under control and relieve symptoms.
1.Most sufferers must be given a type of medicine called a preventer, which is usually an anti-inflammatory steroid (of the glucocorticosteroid type) that treats the underlying causes of the asthma. These are usually given from an inhaler.
Even if symptoms are not present, sufferers should keep taking the preventer medicines, as this will greatly decrease the risk of suffering asthma attacks. This will help many asthmatics to live a normal active life.
Steroids can also be taken as tablets but have many side effects.
2.Another sort of medicine is called a reliever that is used during an asthma attack and may be contained in an inhaler. This contains a bronchodilator medicine that opens up the bronchial tubes of the lungs and works in a few minutes. It can also be taken as tablets. Side effects may be rapid heart beats and tremors of hands.

Can asthma be cured?
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No, there is currently no known cure for asthma.

The good news is that modern medicine is extremely effective in controlling symptoms.

You can lead a relatively normal life if you seek to understand how to control your asthma and prevent attacks from occurring.

Asthma attacks may be prevented at a reasonable cost.
It usually requires long term treatment with 'preventer medication'.

What you can do to control asthma?
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ASTHMA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Asthma is a chronic disease requiring continuous management and appropriate treatment.
If you follow your prescribed asthma management plan, you can expect to live an active, normal lifestyle.

Successful treatment of asthma is a partnership between you and your doctor.

You and your doctor should work out an asthma management plan.
This should include:
1.understanding what asthma is all about
2. having clear goals of management
3. knowing the severity of your asthma;
patients with mild asthma can do with just reliever medications to stop the attacks.
On the other hand, patients with severe asthma or those with frequent attacks should go on regular medications to prevent attacks
4.being able to recognise symptoms suggesting worsening of asthma
5.knowing your medicines (preventers and relievers) and how to use them correctly
6.using the right inhaler technique and practicing it until you get it right
7..recognising and avoiding trigger factors
8.knowing what to do during an asthma attack
9..arranging regular follow-up visits with your doctor

A Simple Guide to Psoriasis

A Simple Guide to Psoriasis
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What is Psoriasis?
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Psoriasis is a disorder of the skin which typically consists of red patches covered by silvery-white scales especially around the trunk, elbows, knees and scalp.

What are the types of Psoriasis?
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There are five types, each with unique signs and symptoms.

1.Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis.
About 80% of people who develop psoriasis have plaque psoriasis, which appears as patches of raised, reddish skin covered by silvery-white scale.
These patches, or plaques, frequently form on the elbows, knees, lower back,and scalp.

2.guttate psoriasis (small, red spots on the skin),

3.pustular psoriasis (white pustules surrounded by red skin),

4.inverse psoriasis (smooth, red lesions form in skin folds)

5.erythrodermic psoriasis (widespread redness, severe itching, and pain).

Who Gets Psoriasis?
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Psoriasis occurs about equally in males and females.
Recent studies show that there may be an ethnic link.
It seems that psoriasis is most common in Caucasians and slightly less common in African Americans.
Worldwide, psoriasis is most common in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe.
It appears to be far less common among Asians and is rare in Native Americans.

There also is a genetic component associated with psoriasis.
About one-third of people who develop psoriasis have at least one family member with the condition.

Research shows that the signs and symptoms of psoriasis usually appear between 15 and 35 years of age.
About 75% develop psoriasis before age 40.
However, it is possible to develop psoriasis at any age. After age 40, a peak onset period occurs between 50 and 60 years of age.

About 1 in 10 people develop psoriasis during childhood, and psoriasis can begin in infancy.
The earlier the psoriasis appears, the more likely it is to be widespread and recurrent.

What causes Psoriasis?
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Its exact cause is unknown but the result is skin which grows about seven times more quickly and thicker than usual.
It is thought to be due, at least in part, to an abnormal immune reaction against some component of the skin.
Genetic factors play a part.
About half those affected know of someone else in the family with it.

The rash often seems to start after some sort of trigger. This may be emotional stress, skin injury (cuts and scratches for example), a streptococcal sore throat, hormones (it often occurs at puberty), or rarely, certain medications.
Psoriasis is not contagious.

What are the symptoms of Psoriasis?
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Itchy, raised patches of dark pink skin.
White scales on the scalp, knees, elbows and upper body.
Pitting, discolouring and thickening of the fingernails and toenails.
Red, scaly and cracked skin on the palms of the hands or on the soles of the feet.
There may be fluid oozing out of the cracks and movement may become very painful. The itching and discomfort may keep a person awake at night, and the pain can make everyday tasks difficult.

How does Psoriasis affects the Patient?
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All types of psoriasis, ranging from mild to severe, can affect a person’s quality of life.
Living with this lifelong condition can be physically and emotionally challenging.
Itching, soreness, and cracked and bleeding skin are common.
Nail psoriasis can be painful.
Even the simple act of squeezing a tube of toothpaste can hurt.
Several studies have shown that people often feel frustrated.
In some cases, psoriasis limits activities and makes it difficult to perform job responsibilities.
Studies also have shown that stress, anxiety, loneliness, and low self-esteem are part of daily life for people living with psoriasis.
It has been that thoughts of suicide are three times higher for psoriatics than the normal person.
Embarrassment is another common feeling.
What if you extended your hand to someone and the person recoiled?
How would you feel if you spent most of your life trying to hide your skin?

What is the Treatment of Psoriasis?
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Psoriasis is a chronic, meaning lifelong, condition because there is currently no cure. People often experience flares and remissions throughout their life.
Controlling the signs and symptoms typically requires lifelong therapy.
Treatment depends on the severity and type of psoriasis.
Some psoriasis is so mild that the person is unaware of the condition.
A few develop such severe psoriasis that lesions cover most of the body and hospitalization is required. These represent the extremes. Most cases of psoriasis fall somewhere in between.

Topical medications (such as steroid and tar lotions, ointments, creams, and shampoo)
Photo therapy (either ultraviolet B, or UV, radiation or psoralen with ultraviolet A, or PU VA, radiation)
Systemic therapy (oral drugs that affect the whole body system, not just the skin e.g. cyclosporins, methotrexate)

Combinations are often used. These treatments are often given in the order described -- from least to most potent -- as necessary, although the physician may choose a more powerful therapy or use combinations first if the patient's initial condition is severe.

With the emergence of several new therapies, including the biologic agents, more people are experiencing substantial improvements and reporting a greatly improved quality of life.