Response to discussion post. Health, Medicine, Nursing Reaction Paper

Post 1
S hours ago
Throughout my career, asthma is one chronic health condition I have encountered. Asthma is characterized by one or more of the following symptoms: wheezing, shortness of breath, cough, and unpredictability in airflow obstruction (Pickstock, 2018). Asthma impacts the quality and socio-economically aspects of a patients’ life. According to Kurvari, Nagaraju, and Voorakamaam (2020), the most common cause of asthma exacerbations is viral infections. Physical activity, overweight, and environmental factors can exacerbate asthma. According to Kurvari, Nagaraju, and Voorakamaam (2020), identifying potentially modifiable risk factors is an essential part of asthma patient screening. I will review the current medications and lifestyle with my patients, looking for potential exposures to environmental triggers such as dust mites, scents, smoke, and pet dander. Another critical evaluation is the patients activity tolerance, body mass index, nutrition, and how they impact the patients' asthma. Once the patient and I have identified the triggers, then education about medication adherence. I also include discussing ways to avoid triggers, such as recommends allergy protection pillow and mattress covers, smoking, perfume, and pet dander. According to Mahay, LeBrun, and Taille (2019), managing triggers and corticosteroid treatment as controller therapy to prevent asthma exacerbation. When activity and weight are triggers, nutrition, reducing the number of steps in activities, and rest periods are discussed. To protect against viral respiratory infections, the flu vaccine, and pneumonia vaccine recommendation
The pandemic recommendations of social distancing have forced healthcare providers to limit in-person office visits. Primary care has implemented telehealth to minimize potential exposure to Covid-19. These are valuable tools, but many older patients do not have access to computers for telemedicine. Also, the lack of physical examination and technical training for older patients is concerning when assessing chronic diseases. The challenges I envision in my practice with the aging population with asthma are affordability and treatment access. 1 feel it essential to know who is available to help my patients and get the support person involved in the care and assist in accessing needed technology for telemedicine to work in this population.