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In 1 or 2 sentences, answer this question to help prepare for the upcoming exam: Based on your currentknowledge, explain the
pathophysiology of asthma.
Your avatar Asthma causes episodes of bronchoconstriction. It is a chronic inflammation of your respiratory tubes.
It can cause wheezing, shortness of breath, and typically the need for inhalers such asalbuterol.
Your avatar what brings you in today?
Tina Jones I came in last night because of my foot. It just wasn't healing, and it's been hurting.Your avatar
When did the pain start?
Tina Jones Well, I got the scrape a week ago, but the scrape and the pain got a lot worse in the lastfew days.
Your avatar Have you had any other heath issues that brought you into the hospital today? (Nomatching
questions found.)
Your avatar Are you having any other health issues today?
Tina Jones My foot is my main concern. I also have diabetes and asthma, but I think that's undercontrol.
Your avatar We will take a look at your foot shortly. First I would like to do a respiratory assessmentfor the asthma.
Educate
Tina Jones Thanks for telling me.
Your avatar When were you diagnosed with asthma?
Tina Jones My doctor told me when I was pretty little... I think I was about two and a half? I used tohave a lot of
trouble with asthma attacks back then.
Your avatar How severe is your asthma now?
Tina Jones I haven't had a full attack in years, but I have trouble breathing sometimes.Your avatar
When was the last asthma attack you had?
Tina Jones It's really rare for me to have an attack now. Three days ago I had some breathingproblems, but
I guess probably my last full attack was in high school.
Your avatar What triggers your asthma
Tina Jones Being around cats is the worst, but dust and running up stairs can make my breathingbad, too.
Your avatar How do being around cats and dust affect your asthma? (Clarified to what happenswhen you are
around a cat.)
Tina Jones Whenever I'm around cats, I start sneezing, my eyes get itchy. . . and my asthma starts toact up.
(Clarified to what the symptoms of my cat allergy are.)
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Your avatar How do you treat those symptoms when they occur? (No matching questions found.)
Your avatar HOw do you treat those asthma symptoms when they occur? (No matching questionsfound.)
Your avatar HOw do you manage your asthma symptoms?
Tina Jones I try to avoid things that give me breathing problems, but when my asthma starts to actup, I just use
my inhaler.
Your avatar What type of inhaler do you use? Tina
Jones It's just a regular Proventil inhaler.
Your avatar How many puffs do you take each time? (Clarified to How many inhaler puffs do youneed.)
Tina Jones I usually use two puffs from my inhaler, but sometimes I need three. [Nurse confirmedwith Pharmacy:
albuterol 90mcg/spray MDI] (Clarified to how many inhaler puffs I need.)
Your avatar Do you have any asthma symptoms currently?Tina
Jones Oh, my breathing is fine right now.
Your avatar Do you experience any wheezing? (Clarified to Do you wheeze when you have an asthmaattack?.)
Tina Jones During a full attack, I would wheeze a lot, like I couldn't breathe at all, but that hasn'thappened in
years. Now I wheeze a little when I have breathing problems, but it's not nearly that bad.(Clarified to if I wheeze during
an asthma attack.)
Your avatar How is your current breathing?Tina
Jones My breathing is okay right now.
Your avatar Have you ever been hospitalized for asthma?
Tina Jones I went a bunch of times when I was little, for asthma attacks?Your
avatar Did you ever see an asthma specialist?
Tina Jones I used to go to Dr. DeWitt, but she moved her practice recently. Luckily she's still beenable to call in
refills of my inhaler, but I haven't actually been in to see her in about two years.
Your avatar Do you have any allergies?Tina
Jones Yeah, I'm allergic to cats.
Your avatar HOw do you treat your allergies?
Tina Jones I try not to be around cats at all, but when I have to be around them and my breathinggets bad, I use
my inhaler. . . but I don't totally feel better until I go home and take a shower.
Your avatar Do you experience any coughing? (Clarified to Do you experience any cough when youhave an asthma
attack?.)
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Tina Jones No, I don't cough when it's happening. (Clarified to if I cough when I have an asthmaattack.)
Your avatar Do you currently have a cough?Tina
Jones I don't have a cough, no.
Your avatar Do you cough up sputum?Tina
Jones I haven't been coughing.
Your avatar Do you have any other respiratory issues besides asthma?Tina
Jones No, just the asthma.
Your avatar Do any family members have a history of asthma
Tina Jones My baby sister has asthma like me, but she's pretty healthy. She almost never hastrouble with it.
Your avatar Do you have any family history of any other respiratory issues? (Clarified to Do you havea family history
of lung problems?.)
Tina Jones My baby sister has asthma, too, but no one else in the family has lung problems, I don'tthink. (Clarified
to if I have a family history of lung problems.)
Your avatar Do you use tobacco products?Tina
Jones No. I think it's gross.
Your avatar Do you use marijuana?
Tina Jones Um, yeah, I've done that before. In high school, and after high school... I definitely don'tanymore, though.
Your avatar When was the last time you used marijuana?
Tina Jones I haven't smoked pot since I was twenty or twenty-one.Your
avatar Are you ever around people who smoke?
Tina Jones Some of my friends smoke when we go out drinking. But I don't smoke, and nobody athome smokes.
Your avatar Does anyone in your family use tobacco products?Tina
Jones No, nobody at home smokes.
Your avatar Does anyone in your family have a history of lung cancer?
Tina Jones Nobody in my family has had lung cancer and, Lord willing, no one ever will.Your avatar
Checked vitals
Exam Action
Your avatar okay thank you for answering all my questions.
