Asthma Essay With Conclusions

Asthma Essay With Conclusions Asthma is one of the major chronic respiratory conditions which alter the respiratory function of the body. The World Health Organisation or WHO (2012) defines asthma as a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterised by frequent episodes of breathlessness and wheezing. This difficulty in breathing is caused by the swelling and constricting of the airways. Exposure to allergens, pollutants, cold air, infection and exercise can increase the risk of asthmatics having an attack (Funnel, Koutoukidis and Lawrence 2009). This essay will discuss on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, medical management and clinical manifestations of asthma. It will also cover the client education needed to provide for those with asthma, asthma’s risk factors and its prognosis. According to the National Asthma Council of Australia or NACA (2006) more than 2.2 million Australians are suffering from asthma. This essay will therefore also describe how asthma impacts on its victims and their life style. Kaufman (2011) describes the pathophysiology of asthma as a pathologic condition which affects the lower respiratory tract by narrowing the airways as a result of epithelial damage, excessive mucus production, oedema, bronchoconstriction and muscle damage. In asthma the cells in the epithelium layer can be destroyed and peel away, making the respiratory tract more susceptible to allergens and infections, thereby contributing to airway hyper-responsiveness (Kaufman 2011). Asthma also triggers the development of mucus cells and mucus glands. This increases mucus production, thus forming mucous plugs which can obstruct the airways (Monahan et al. 2007). Airway oedema is another change that occurs in the respiratory tract due to asthma. It involves the dilation and leaking of capillaries in the airway walls which limits airflow (Kaufman 2011). Monahan et al. (2007) add that increased capillary permeability and leakage can obstruct the airways due to swelling. They also explain t hat the inflammatory agents such as histamine, tryptase, leukotriences and prostaglandins act on smooth muscles of airway walls and cause bronchoconstriction which restricts the airflow to alveoli. Brown and Edwards (2012) write that wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and cough are the most common clinical manifestations of asthma. They can occur especially at night and in the early morning and can vary from person to person. It is not necessary to have all the symptoms at once as different symptoms can occur at different times. According to NACA (2006) frequent cough, feeling weak, wheezing after exercise, shortness of breath and sleeping difficulties can be early signs of asthma while severe wheezing, continuous cough, rapid breathing, anxiety, chest pain, blue lips and fingernails are the symptoms of severe asthma attacks. Diagnosing asthma can be done by obtaining a detailed history, performing physical examinations, pulmonary function testing, and laboratory assessments (Ignatavicius and Workman 2010) According to Ignatavicius and Workman (2010) it is important to ask patients about any experiences of having shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness, wheeze and increased mucus production as well as about their smoking habits and any family history of asthma. The same source write that physical examinations can be performed by listening to the patient’s chest for any wheezing sounds and observing respiratory effort by assessing the respiratory rate and examining whether the patient is using any accessory muscles to breathe. They add that the shape of the chest also needs to be examined, as a barrel-shaped chest can be a sign of prolonged asthma. In addition, the oral mucosa and nail beds need to be examined for any bluish tinge (Ignatavicius and Workman 2010).

Legalization of marijuana Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Legalization of marijuana - Term Paper Example Is Information fact centered or value-centered? Information is fact centered in that it discusses theories. The information is fact centered where the importance is laid down in an analogy with the consumption of alcohol and nicotine Is Information Current? The most current information included a brief discussion on legalization of Marijuana in the current trend. The information is most current. The information has been taken from the recently published journals which advocate for the legalization of Marijuana. Are References and/or A Bibliography Included? Several bibliographical sources are used and are included at the end of the article. Several bibliographical sources are used and are included at the end of the article. Major POV Citation Zimmer, Lynn Etta. Marijuana Myths Marijuana Facts: A Review of the Scientific Evidence. New York: Lindesmith Center, 1997. Beckman, Mary. "Mary Jane's New Brain." Science Now (13 October 2005): 1. On Legalization of Marijuana: Legalization of M arijuana has always been a controversial issue with regard to international politics and contemporary social constructions. Marijuana is considered to be a drug in many countries and whatever the pro legalization people might say or think the bottom-line has been that since it is a drug it needs to be kept in check and its usage should not be promoted freely throughout the countries. The article which shall be reviewed in this part of essay is known as â€Å"Legalization of Marijuana: Potential Impact on Youth†. The essay studies the impact Marijuana has on the youth and how much it has been able to shape up the mind and activities of the youth today. The essay studies both the positive and the negative part of the usage of Marijuana. The communities who advocate for the usage and legalization of Marijuana have said that the drug is not harmful per se, but the way in which it has been kept underground is a cause for concern as then it might be perceived to be a harmful and a taboo thing to do since those who are not involved in it would perceive it to be that way, and that might spoil the image of Marijuana consumption. The debate has also been stretched towards the medical side of Marijuana usage, with the pro legalization camps contemplating that it provides a good bonus to the health of an ailing individual and that it allows one to find a way out of bad health and improve one’s mental disabilities. There have been multiple surveys conducted by researchers and in those surveys a majority of people have said that they would like to maintain the status quo with regard to Marijuana and therefore oppose its legalization. The people consisted of residents of United States which has California as one of the States which have legalized the usage of Marijuana. In another essay, title â€Å"The Effects of Marijuana†, the writer states the negative and positive effects of Marijuana usage and has advocated for not legalizing the usage of Mari

Personal Incident that Helped to Make Ethical Decision Essay

Personal Incident that Helped to Make Ethical Decision - Essay Example A person may not be legally bound to choose a course of action but ethics demand that he take on that course of action. Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, deals with the obligations that human beings have to the society and people around them. It also deals with the values that we acquire while living within the society and it is these values that guide the decisions that individuals take in their lives (Duquenoy, George and Kimppa, 2008). In this paper, we attempt to present an ethical dilemma that I faced in my life recently and how this decision I made corresponds with two different ethical theories. Under the light of these ethical theories that are Utilitarianism and Kantism Theory, we would be discussing the decision that I made. The objective is to study the decision under these theories and determine whether the action taken was ethically correct. Ethical Situation Recently, while working as an intern in a hospital, I went across a case that required ethical decision mak ing. A 5-year-old child was suffering from severe trauma as a result of a car accident. The car accident that left the child in a vegetative state and he continued to be on life support for more than 3 months. Even before the condition, the child had been suffering because of his medical condition that had been diagnosed as Thalassemia Major. As the three months were nearing their end, the parents of the child were losing hope. The doctor, a senior and a mentor, was also losing hope. The parents were quite attached to their child and had been his main support throughout his life. But with time, they were realizing that their child may not survive given his condition and the injury that he had taken on. For this reason, they were considering using euthanasia as a valid option at that stage. The doctor, however, was not willing to allow the child to be put to sleep considering that the law was against such a situation. During the child’s illness and his injury, I had developed a good bonding with the parents. I saw them as caring individuals and loving parents who were generally distressed at their child’s present condition. Because of their concern, I usually took out the time in my busy schedule to visit and offer support at least once during the day. I was aware that my concern for the child reassured the parents and they discussed their options with me in great detail. Thus, it was not surprising that they came to me to discuss the option of euthanasia. Personally, I do not have a strong argument for or against euthanasia but seeing the child as he was and the suffering the parents were going through, I realized that euthanasia would be more advantageous in this position. However, I was legally bound to refrain from the practice myself. Decision After great deliberation, I decided that I indeed had an option that the parents would consider. I researched the internet about states that allowed euthanasia as legal practices and informed the parent s of such states.