LEARNING OUTCOME AND OBJECTIVES:  Upon completion of this course, you will have increased your knowledge of how to plan, deliver, and evaluate evidence-based preventative and therapeutic care for patients at risk for asthma and patients who have asthma. Specific learning objectives to address potential knowledge gaps include:

• Define “asthma” and its types.
• Discuss the impacts of asthma.
• Review the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, etiology, and contributing factors related to the development of asthma.
• Describe the diagnostic process and assessment of asthma severity.
• Review the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments for asthma.
• Describe the management of acute asthma attacks.
• Summarize the elements of long-term asthma management.
• Identify the roles of respiratory, physical, and occupational therapy in the long-term management of asthma.
• Describe complications of asthma.
• Discuss asthma care for special populations.

INTRODUCTION

Most people go through their days blissfully unaware of the approximately 25,000 breaths they take every 24 hours. This allows them to enjoy life and pursue their goals in relative comfort. They may experience some shortness of breath with exertion, but otherwise they breathe along nicely without concern.

For persons who have asthma, those 25,000 breaths may become the focus of their day. Depending on the severity of their symptoms, some may experience only occasional wheezing and shortness of breath, but for others each breath must be earned through great effort. Sometimes people with asthma know why an asthma attack has occurred, and other times they may be unaware of what triggered it, living with a sense of uneasiness even when they are doing well.

In those who must fight for each breath, fear and anxiety often aggravate the problem. Relief from this struggle becomes the only thing such people may think about, and they know they need help. Self-medication often works, but there are times when a trip to the emergency room is necessary to reverse the disease process and return the patient to maintenance status once again. Sometimes, the person is not so lucky and may need to be hospitalized. Regrettably, asthma may even lead to death.