Recognising and Responding to Acute Asthma
Published: 19 January 2023
Published: 19 January 2023
Asthma is clinically defined as the combination of variable respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, cough and chest tightness, and significant variation in lung function.
Asthma is a chronic disease that can be controlled but not cured.
In the event of an asthma attack, triggering stimuli cause the smooth muscles of the bronchi to contract and, consequently, the passage to narrow. The tissue lining of the airway swells as a result of inflammation and secretes mucus (Ortega & Izquierdo 2022a). This narrowing of the airways is usually reversible.
A minor asthma attack can be treated at home with proper medications. A severe asthma attack requires medical intervention and has the potential to be a life-threatening emergency.
The most effective way of preventing an asthma attack is recognising and treating the early signs of an asthma flare-up. In order to do this, it is necessary to have in place and follow an asthma treatment plan that has been made in collaboration with a doctor (Mayo Clinic 2021).
This plan (detailed below) will detail steps to follow in the event that a person’s asthma worsens and what to do in the event of an asthma attack.
Roughly one in nine Australians have asthma (2.7 million) (ABS 2018).
The prevalence of asthma among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is about 1.6 times higher than that of non-First Nations people (AIHW 2020), and even higher in the older adult population (Asthma Australia 2022a). Furthermore, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have double the asthma mortality rate of non-First Nations Australians (Asthma Australia 2022b).
Asthma is also more common in people residing in lower socio-economic areas and more prevalent in regional and remote areas as opposed to major cities (Asthma Australia 2022b).
Fewer than one in five people over the age of 15 have a written asthma treatment plan (lowest out of people aged 25-44), even though it is recommended that every person who has asthma has a written plan (Asthma Australia 2022a).
(National Asthma Council Australia 2022a)
Common symptoms of acute asthma include:
(Mayo Clinic 2021)
Most asthma attacks occur in the early hours of the morning. This is generally the time when the effect of protective medicines has worn off and the body is least able to prevent the airway from narrowing (Ortega & Izquierdo 2022a).
The symptoms of an asthma attack can vary from person to person, making it necessary for a person with asthma to work with their medical officer to identify their unique signs and symptoms (Mayo Clinic 2019).
There is no single reliable test to form an asthma diagnosis. Commonly, a diagnosis of asthma is made based on:
(National Asthma Council 2022b)
The exact causes of asthma are unknown; it is likely asthma is the result of a combination of complex interactions between genes, environmental conditions and nutrition (Ortega & Izquierdo 2022a).
Asthma ranges in severity. It is necessary for a person with asthma to know their asthma rating.
(Ortega & Izquierdo 2022)
Lung (pulmonary) tests are taken to evaluate how well a person’s lungs are functioning. Poor lung function indicates that asthma is not currently well-controlled (Mayo Clinic 2021).
(Mayo Clinic 2021)
It is recommended that a person experiencing the following symptoms seeks immediate medical attention:
(Mayo Clinic 2021)
An individualised written asthma action plan is necessary for people who have asthma. It will be made in accordance with their treatment regimen, the severity of their asthma, their culture, language, and ability to self-manage.
A plan should involve the following:
(National Asthma Council 2022b)
Medicines used to treat asthma allow people to live normal lives. In many cases, the medicines used to treat an asthma attack can be used (in lower doses) to limit the occurrence of attacks.
The main medications used in asthma are:
(Gowan 2019; Ortega & Izquierdo 2022b)
It is strongly advised that people who have asthma learn their triggers and do their best to avoid these.
Other prevention tips include:
(Pietrangelo & Sullivan 2023)
Question 1 of 3
An individualised written asthma action plan is necessary for people who…?