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Summary C155 Assessme.docx Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice Western Governors University Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice Investigated Disease Process Asthma is a widespread disease process that

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C155 A Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice Western Governors University Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice Investigated Disease Process Asthma is a widespread disease process that affects a large population of people daily. As one of t...

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  • February 6, 2021
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  • 2020/2021
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Running head: PATHOPHARMACOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS




Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice



Western Governors University

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PATHOPHARMACOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice

Investigated Disease Process

Asthma is a widespread disease process that affects a large population of people daily. As

one of the world’s most common chronic diseases, asthma affects around 25 million people in

the United States. The percentage of the US population with asthma has increased over time

growing from 7.3% of the population in 2001 to 7.9% in 2017 (CDC, 2020). This respiratory

disease has been thoroughly studied with expectations to better understand and manage the

disease process. Patients diagnosed with asthma undergo an extreme change to their lifestyle.

With appropriate understanding and management of the disease process, individuals can

consciously manage asthma to have a better quality of life and prevent possible life-threatening

situations.Acute asthma exacerbations oftenmanifest in individuals with an unmanaged disease.

Healthcare providers’ awareness of best practices for effective management of the disease is key

to improving patients’ quality of life living with asthma.

Pathophysiology

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease involving the respiratory system. Asthma

affects the functioning of the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. Asthma is characterized by

airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and bronchoconstriction. The etiology of

the disease consists of multiple factors including environmental, genetic and

infectiouscomponents. The body’s response to these triggers is to increase the secretion of

mucus. Increased mucus production and hyperresponsiveness of the airway result in decreased

air flow which provokes frequent episodes of coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.The

severity of asthma is determined by airway inflammation. Asthmatics undergo an increased

immune response to certain stimuli which causes airway edema and constriction resulting in

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PATHOPHARMACOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
intermittent airflow obstruction. The combination of increased secretions, thickening muscle wall

and bronchoconstriction compromises the airway and intensifies the vulnerability of the

individual’s respiratory system (Wendling, 2015).

On a cellular level, the mast cells and epithelial cells in the lining of the respiratory

organs are affected. These cells are responsive to external stimuli and generate constriction of the

airway and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (Wendling, 2015).Individuals with asthma have an

imbalance of epithelial cells and difficulty repairing epithelial cells that are damaged. In a

healthy respiratory system, the myofibroblast cells are in control of repairing the epithelial cells

when they become damaged. When epithelial cells are damaged within acompromised

respiratory system, such as in those with asthma, the immune system triggers myofibroblasts to

produce cytokines. Acting as inflammatory mediators, cytokines are proteins that regulate and

relay immunoglobulin E (IgE) from B cells and promotethe growth anddifferentiation of cells

(Wendling, 2015).When unable to repair the damaged respiratory epithelial cells, the

myofibroblasts create an alternative remodeled epithelium composed of damaged scar tissue.

This results in a thickened and inflamed epithelium lining of the respiratory system (Holgate,

Holloway, Wilson, Bucchieri, Puddicombe, & Davies, 2004). The new airway becomes

constricted and limits airflow due to the thickened and inflamed epithelium in addition to the

mucus secretionsof the respiratory system (Kudo, Ishigatsubo, Aoki, 2013). A constricted airway

makes it difficult for individuals to inhale and exhale appropriately,triggering manifestations of

shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing.

The respiratory system isn’t the only body system affected by asthma. The decrease of

oxygen in the bloodstream beginning in the respiratory system is a waterfall effect. The work put

on the heart muscle is increased due to the decrease of oxygen in the bloodstream and during an

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