//fpnotebook.com/
Asthma Education
Aka: Asthma Education, Inhaler Education
- See Also
- Asthma Management
- Management: Explain Pathophysiology
- Contrast between Asthmatic and normal lungs
- Describe what happens to airways in Asthma attack
- Explain Asthma as a chronic disease
- No Cure (although may resolve on its own)
- Management directed at achieving Asthma control
- Management: Describe Medication Roles
- Emphasize Long-term medications as key to control
- How Medications work
- Long-term medications reduce inflammation (e.g. Inhaled Corticosteroid)
- Short-term medications rescue from bronchospasm (e.g. Short acting beta agonist)
- Management: Inhaler Use
- Metered Dose Inhalers (e.g. ProAir, Qvar) - HFA propellant
- Shake before each puff (to mix the suspension)
- Use with Inhaler Spacer
- Exhale, then press down on Inhaler while breathing in slowly and deeply and then hold breath for 10 seconds
- Soft Mist Inhaler (e.g. Combivent Respimat) - spring-loaded device without propellant
- No shaking of suspension required
- Exhale, then press down on Inhaler while breathing in slowly and deeply and then hold breath for 10 seconds
- Dry Powder Inhaler (e.g. Advair, Spiriva)
- Hold device level and do not shake
- Device punctures medication casing exposing the powder
- Patient exhales and then ruptures capsule, inhales quickly and deeply
- Device types
- Single-dose device (e.g. aerolizer, handihaler)
- One dose capsule inserted into device, punctured and inhaled once or twice
- Multi-dose device (e.g. Discus, Flexhaler, Twisthaler)
- Dose is advanced (specific to device) and then capsule punctured and inhaled
- References
- (2014) Presc Lett 21(2): 9
- Management: Skill Training
- See Metered Dose Inhaler
- See Inhalers above
- Inhaler technique teaching is billable (CPT 94664)
- Spacer and holding chamber use
- See Spacer Devices for Asthma Inhalers
- Monitoring methods
- Symptom monitoring
- Peak Flow meter
- Early recognition of exacerbation
- Written action plan
- Stepwise plan for exacerbations
- When and how to take Rescue medications
- Management: Control Measures for Environmental Allergens
- See Environmental Allergen
- Animal Dander
- Remove animal from house
- Keep animal out of patient's bedroom
- Install Filter on bedroom air duct
- House-Dust mites
- Encase mattress and pillow in impermeable cover
- Wash bedding weekly in hot water
- Reduce indoor humidity <50%
- Remove dust "collectors" from room
- Cockroaches
- Set traps
- Preventative measures
- Pollens
- Keep windows closed during the season
- Indoor Mold
- Fix leaks and other water sources of mold growth
- Reduce indoor humidity to <50%
- Clean