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Summary C155 Revision 1.docx C155 Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice College of Health Professions, Western Governors University Contents Investigated Disease Process.............................................................$7.49
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Summary C155 Revision 1.docx C155 Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice College of Health Professions, Western Governors University Contents Investigated Disease Process.............................................................
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Western Governors University
C155 Revision C155 Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice College of Health Professions, Western Governors University Contents Investigated Disease Process...........................................................................................................3 P...
The disease process I have selected to investigate is asthma. Asthma is a respiratory
condition that can range from mild to life-threatening with chronic inflammation of the
bronchioles, bronchoconstriction and the lining of the lungs. This causes airway restriction.
Acute exacerbation of asthma is caused by triggers such as infections, allergens, exercise, and
other irritants, or noncompliance with treatment regimens. In the United States in 2018 more
than 24 million people were diagnosed with asthma. Roughly 19 million adults, which is 7.7
percent of the US adult population have asthma. In 2018 over 3 thousand people's underlying
cause of death was asthma [ CITATION Natnd \l 1033 ].
The reason I selected this topic is that it is a disease the affects me both personally and
professionally. Professionally, I am a pediatric nurse, and this is a disease that affects both adults
and children. The information and knowledge I gain from this assignment I will be able to
directly apply to my practice. I developed asthma as an adult, so the knowledge I gain from this
assignment will help me better understand how this disease impacts my body, overall health, and
if not controlled how it could alter my quality of life and life expectancy. In the current climate
with the COVID-19 pandemic, I am more aware of the impact having asthma could have on my
overall health. That the disease places me in a higher risk category for COVID-19 and that I must
take additional safety precautions to stay virus-free.
Pathophysiology
Asthma is described as a chronic inflammatory disease of the pulmonary airways and bronchial
hyperresponsiveness which causes an obstruction of the lower airways that is usually reversible.
The inflammation causes a narrowing of the airways disrupting airways. However, asthma does
just affect the respiratory system, it affects several key areas of the body. During an asthma
,attack, your bronchial passageways in the lungs narrow. This causes an increased load on the
heart to supply the body with oxygen. During a severe asthma attack, the amount of oxygen
being supplied to the brain can be greatly reduced. What happens in the respiratory system
directly affects the neurological system and the circulatory system, therefore the whole body.
Acute exacerbation of asthma is caused by bronchial smooth muscle contracting which
narrows the airways. This is usually in response to stimulants such as allergens and irritants. To
understand the pathophysiology of asthma, knowledge of the anatomical structures of the
respiratory and the pulmonary system is essential. The respiratory system is comprised of two
tracts: the upper respiratory tract which is made up of the nose and nasal passages, mouth, and
oropharynx, pharynx, and larynx. The lower respiratory tracts are made of the trachea and within
the lungs the bronchi, and alveoli. The blood vessels which I have included because they are
responsible for oxygen distribution and gas exchange throughout the body. The lungs are
considered the main component of the respiratory system whose functions include air inspiration,
oxygen extraction, and exhalation, expelling carbon dioxide. The lungs and lower respiratory
tract are significantly affected by Asthma. The trachea works as a passageway for air to be
transported through the bronchi into the lungs. The alveoli are tiny sacs of air within the lungs
that are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide [ CITATION McC14 \l
1033 ]. The understanding of the anatomical structures of the respiratory system can assist and
enhance the understanding of the pulmonary system. According to McCance and Huether in
2014, “the pulmonary system functions to (1) ventilate the alveoli, (2) diffuse gases into and out
of the blood, and (3) perfuse the lungs so that the organs and tissues of the body receive blood
that is rich in oxygen and low in CO2.”
, Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that involves many cells and
cellular elements such as mast cells, eosinophils, T lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and
epithelial cells. Bronchoprovocation triggers such respiratory infections, allergens, smoke, cold
air, and exercise can cause these cells and mediators to be released[ CITATION Exp07 \l
1033 ]. Exposure to these triggers can cause a response in the airways known as
bronchoconstriction. The airway smooth muscles contract as a direct result of allergen-induced
acute bronchoconstriction, due to immunoglobulin-E (IgE) dependent release of a mediator
from mast cells. These mast cells consist of histamine, tryptase, leukotrienes, and prostaglandin
D2
[ CITATION Exp07 \l 1033 ]. The T-lymphocytes that affect the airway can be T helper1 or T
helper 2 (Th1, Th2) cells and are activated at the start of the inflammation process by leukocytes
in the bloodstream. The leukocytes also signal the release of other inflammatory mediators, mast
cells, and eosinophils. Mast cells in the airway smooth muscle in large quantities can contribute
to airway hyper-responsiveness, and a large number of eosinophils in the airway can exacerbate
asthma [CITATION Sec07 \l 1033 ]. These inflammatory mediators, then generate the cytokines
that contribute to the airway inflammation process [ CITATION Exp07 \l 1033 ].
If asthma becomes more advanced, edema of the airway hypersecretion of mucus, and the
formation of mucus plugs can limit airflow further. These symptoms can be reversible with
treatment. However, structural changes that may not respond well to traditional treatment include
hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the airway smooth muscle[ CITATION Sec07 \l 1033 ]. In
individuals with asthma, the inflammation can cause wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness,
and coughing and are usually associated with airflow obstruction. The inflammation also causes
an increase in the existing bronchial hyperresponsiveness to a variety of stimuli. If the loss of
lung function is not treated or prevented it can result in structural changes in the airway that
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