What is Asthma?

Asthma is a long-term lung disease, that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma causes chest tightness, shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing.

Caring for patients with respiratory problems is a challenge for the nurse, especially since there are many needs that the nurse must prioritize. Patients with asthma are part of the group of patients in which the nurse must ensure that in addition to meeting the patient’s needs for air and efficient gas exchange, there is a need to meet the physiological and psychological needs of society. However, before prioritizing which nursing problem the patient should address first, the nurse should be familiar with the course of the disease and how it affects the patient in general.

Asthma or bronchial asthma is a chronic airway disease that is usually caused by an allergic reaction to a stimulus. This response leads to inflammation of the airways, bronchoconstriction, and the production of strong, thick sputum. All of this indicates that the airway is narrowing, causing wheezing to be heard among asthma patients. Patients also experience shortness of breath, unproductive cough, opening of the nostrils, and intolerance to activity.

Because asthma is a stressful and / or inflammatory reaction to a stimulus, seizures are usually accompanied by stimuli such as extreme temperatures (extreme heat or extreme cold), sudden changes in temperature, dust, pollen, smoke, exercise, emotions, Or pressure. In some cases, seizures can begin when patients are diagnosed with another type of respiratory illness or experience complications from other illnesses. The symptoms are almost always the same, regardless of the stimuli.

Manage Asthma attacks

A medication regimen is usually prescribed when the disease worsens. The type of medication given to patients depends on the symptoms presented, the priority of care, and the age of the individual. These are also compared to the results of other tests performed on the patient.

Due to the chronic nature of the disease, patients with asthma are also provided with health education to help them take responsibility for their condition and reduce the risk of exacerbation. Common non-pharmacological interventions such as deep breathing and coughing exercises, relaxation and meditation therapy, and ensuring that the patient receives proper nutrition should also be considered. In addition, allowing the patient to know exactly what triggers their seizures helps them to avoid these seizures and reduce the incidence of asthma.

Asthma Nursing Care Program

Patients with asthma mainly suffer from respiratory symptoms and the nurse should eliminate these symptoms as soon as they are identified. Nursing diagnoses for patients with asthma focus primarily on airway clearance, breathing patterns, and gas exchange, but also include other issues related to endurance, anxiety, and even nutritional status. This section presents some of the most common nursing diagnoses and their care plans to help better care for patients with asthma. The following nursing diagnoses are more common among patients with asthma:

• Inefficient airway clearance

Dysfunctional breathing patterns

• Disruption of gas exchange

• Intolerance of activity

• Anxiety

• Lack of knowledge

• Risk for / nutritional imbalance: more / less than the body needs

Ineffective airway clearance 

Ineffective airway clearance related to (indicate one or more of the following related factors: airway spasm, production of thick tenacious sputum, retention of sputum, etc.) secondary to the diagnosis of asthma as evidenced by (include assessment findings specific to which particular symptoms the patient is manifesting such as:

• Wheezes and rhonchi heard upon auscultation
• Coughing (indicate whether productive or unproductive)
• Dyspnea
• Orthopnea
• Changes in rate, depth, and rhythm of respiration

Desired Outcomes

After nursing interventions, the patient is expected to:

• Exhibit easy, effortless breathing
• Decreased severity and incidence of wheezing
• Increased airway patency

Ineffective/impaired breathing patterns

Ineffective/impaired breathing patterns related to (indicate one or more of the following related factors: spasms of the bronchial tubes, swelling of the bronchial tubes, irritating biological agents, etc.) secondary to diagnosis of asthma as evidenced by (include assessment findings specific to which particular symptoms the patient is manifesting such as:

• Patient complaints of dyspnea, primarily upon exertion
• Coughing (indicate whether productive or unproductive)
• Flaring of the nares
• Changes in respiratory rate, depth and rhythm
• Use of accessory muscles in respiration

Desired Outcomes

After nursing interventions, the patient is expected to:

• Exhibit easy, effortless breathing
• Improved breathing pattern
• Reports of the absence of dyspnea

Activity Intolerance

Activity intolerance related to insufficient physiologic energy secondary to diagnosis of asthma as evidenced by (include assessment findings specific to which particular symptoms the patient is manifesting such as:

• Patient verbalization of weakness and shortness of breath
• Hesitation in engaging in physical activities
• Alterations in vital signs: increased heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure
• Dyspnea upon exertion
• Changes in ECG readings

Desired Outcomes

After nursing interventions, the patient is expected to:

• Exhibit easy, effortless breathing
• Display willingness to perform activities of daily living
• Increased activity tolerance