Introduction
The experiences of narrowing of airways, swelling, and blockage by extra mucus production refer to asthma. As a result, breathing difficulties initiate coughing, a whistling sound when a person takes breaths out. Asthma is categorized based on the symptoms’ causes and harshness. Therefore, healthcare providers classify them as intermittent asthma, a situation whereby a person can feel normal during asthma flashes (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). Persistent asthma is another form of asthma that means an individual has symptoms more often, which can be minor, moderate, or severe (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp. 1-5). Henceforth, healthcare givers classify asthma based on symptoms occurrences in an individual by considering the level of its severity.
The following are signs and symptoms of a patient who has asthma. Asthma is characterized by bronchial tube inflammation with extra mucus production causing blockage of airways (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). And asthmatic patients can experience symptoms when the airways are squeezed, inflamed, and filled with mucus. The usual symptoms of a person who has asthma include; coughing mostly at night, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest pain. Although not all individuals with asthma have the same symptoms, someone might lack all of the above symptoms or have, unlike symptoms at different times (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp. 1-5). Moreover, it is significant to identify and treat mild asthma symptoms to prevent biting incidents and control the disease.
The prevalence of asthma in Europe and Ireland. In European countries, nearly 25 million people below the age of 45 are diagnosed with asthma. And the prevalence of asthma in the European Union is 9.4% in children and 8.3% in adults. In UK and Ireland experience some of the greatest rates of asthma in the globe (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). In most cases, an adult with a disease develops it from childhood. On the other hand, it can be developed in the elderly, but due to its similar features, it might be hard to differentiate asthma from COPD in older individuals. An individual with asthma may be managed successfully in primary care, while others may require specialist supervision.
Treatment method for a person suffering from an asthma condition. Those techniques are bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory medicines, and biologic therapies for asthma. Bronchodilators are medicines that relax the muscles around the airways allowing air movement (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). They make it easy for mucus to pass via the airways. Moreover, these medications relieve the symptoms and are used for intermitted and chronic asthma. On the other hand, anti-inflammatory medicines minimize the swelling and production of mucus in the airways. Lastly, biological therapies for asthma are used for advanced asthma when symptoms persevere appropriate inhaler therapy.
Common triggers of asthma in an individual. Asthma causes may vary from one individual to another while; some individuals respond to just a few, with others responding to too many triggers (Viswam and Mansur, 2022, pp.466). The most usual asthma triggers include; allergies such as dust mites, pollen, molds, rodents, and pet dander; irritants in the air in the form of cigarette smoke, air pollution, wood fire chemicals, and strong fumes or vapors. Other health conditions include allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, obesity, food allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, exercise, weather, and medicine. Since the symptom does not always happen immediately after exposure, it is vital to preserving track of the triggers that stimulate asthma.
The Rationale
Health promotion refers to raising an individual, organization, crowd, and community to advance health knowledge, behavior, and skills. In contrast, health education combines any learning experiences intended to simplify voluntary activities favorable to health. Health education and promotion aim to positively encourage the healthy behavior of people and communities and their working and living conditions (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp. 1-5). Moreover, health promotion merits include promoting the health status of families, communities, and people; encouraging the worth of life for all individuals; minimizing early deaths; reduces the cost of living via preventative measures. In asthma, they provide the necessary knowledge to individuals suffering from the disease, thus inhibiting asthma attacks.
Health education is offered in various institutions such as schools, colleges, companies, and health care settings. Educators in that institution aim to educate patients on medical procedures, therapeutic regimens, operations, and innovative actions to encourage the use of facilities by great-risk patients; offer counseling to employees on various techniques to prevent attacks from respiratory diseases. Moreover, they emphasize the importance of health and safety; they promote self-care; they develop events to advance patient participation in the clinical process (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). Furthermore, health educators enlighten people to facilitate, protect, maintain health and minimize hazardous behaviors.
The Key Health Education and Promotion Messages in the Brochure
Dust mite allergy is an allergic response to tiny bugs usually found in dust. The common signs and symptoms of dust mite include sneezing, runny nose, cough, facial pain, and hay fever. If the dust mite triggers asthma, symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing are experienced (Harville, 2020, pp. 366). It is vital to reduce or prevent the number of dust mites in a home by providing a conducive environment by installing carpets, bedding, and upholstered furniture to absorb dust. Dust mite might be mild, meaning occasional sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. The condition can be chronic in case of severity, leading to congestion, facial pressure, persistent sneezing, and severe asthma attack. In some cases, signs and symptoms of dust mite, such as sneezing and runny nose, are related to the common cold. Although, if the symptoms are severe, such as wheezing, difficult breathing, and nasal congestion, they need medical support.
Physical exercise triggers asthma by narrowing the airways in the lungs induced by vigorous exercise. As a result, a person may start experiencing shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing during or after the exercise. People with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction might carry on exercise and stay energetic by treating the signs and symptoms with asthma medication and observing preventative measures (Harville, 2020, pp. 366). If an individual has exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and experiences symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and no progress even after using a prescription inhaler for an asthma attack should see a doctor immediately.
Animals with fur, for example, cats, rabbit, and dogs shed dead skin cells called dander, triggering an allergy. Pet dander and other pet allergens can stay in the air longer than other allergens. They are microscopic and jagged in shape, enabling them to become airborne diseases (Harville, 2020, pp. 366). The associated symptoms include sneezing, watery eyes, shortness of breath, and a runny nose. To manage pet allergy, minimize exposure, and avoid contact with pets. Also, brush the pet in a closed area, far away from a person prone to asthma. In case the symptom persists, visit the health care provider about medication.
Molds are common types of fungus, and they are microscopic organisms. Since molds are microscopic, they can easily float in the air and inhale, triggering respiratory problems. When a person allergic to mold inhales the mold, it may cause asthma. The associated symptoms of mold allergy include sneezing, runny nose, scaling skin, itching, and congestion (Harville, 2020, pp.366). Some patients may develop a severe illness called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis but rarely. The best way to prevent mold spores is by limiting outdoor activities when mold is high, particularly in summer and fall (Harville, 2020, pp.366). Always wear a mask when digging nearby crops, collecting leaves, cutting grass, or distributing plant materials. To reduce indoor mold spores, use air conditioning fitted with certified asthma and allergy filters to assist in trapping mold spores in the entire home. Moreover, maintain proper ventilation by installing an exhaust fan in the home and keeping the bathrooms clean.
Cigarette smoke is a powerful cause of asthma symptoms and irritates the lining of the airways. When a person inhales cigarette smoke, irritating elements settle in the wet airway lining and trigger asthma incidences. More frequently lungs of individuals who smoke and have asthma face poor asthma control and continually have asthma symptoms (Harville, 2020, pp. 367). Cigarette smoke destroys cilia; a tiny airway inhibition it from functioning. Tobacco smoke also triggers abnormal extra mucus production by lung inactivating cilia. Therefore, it can be prevented by quitting smoking, advising families on the dangers of smoking, and encouraging smokers to quit and avoid smoking areas.
Benefits for Patient Care
Patient care can be defined as the prevention, management, and treatment of disease and preservation of mental and physical well-being via services given by the caregiver. Patient care benefits are greater patient engagement and fulfillment rates, both parties’ objectives are achieved, and pleasing outcomes. In many hospitals that exercise and practice patient care, better health outcomes are witnessed (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). In addition, the report of low asthma visit rate, quick recovery, reduced utilization of healthcare resources, and increased patient, family, and healthcare satisfaction. Therefore, patients will be enabled with more knowledge and can recognize asthma attacks quickly and prevent severe asthma attacks, prevent attacks more easily and avoid asthma triggers and improve their quality of life significantly.
The Value of Including a Health Education and Promotion Model to Guide Practice
Many models and theories sustain health education, disease prevention, and health promotion. They assist greatly in comprehending and explaining health behavior and guide treatment selection, development, and implantation. Theoretical methods are used to investigate answers to the questions “why,” “what,” and “how” health issues should be dealt with. By looking for answers to these problems, they describe the nature of targeted health behaviors (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp. 1-5). Theory guides the search for why individuals participate in or abstain from certain health behaviors. Moreover, it aids planners in defining what is required before creating public health agendas and proposing ways to develop policies that grasp target audiences and positively influence them.
Additionally, theory equips planners with the knowledge and skills needed to go beyond perception to design and evaluate health behavior and health promotion interventions established on developmental understanding. They provide a road map for analyzing problems, developing suitable interventions, and assessing their success (Abuzakouk, Jacob, and Ghorab, 2020, pp.1-5). They define the dynamic powers of health conduct, such as alteration of processes and the influences of the numerous features that impact health actions, for instance, social and physical surroundings. Besides, they greatly assist planners in regulating the appropriate target audiences and evaluation outcomes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lung and is characterized by shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. The common asthma triggers are tobacco smoke, dust mites, air pollution, pests such as cockroaches, pets, mold, physical exercise, and some medicine. Therefore, health education and promotion play a critical role in empowering patients with adequate knowledge on how to identify asthma attacks quickly and how to prevent asthma attacks and severe asthma attacks before worsening. Furthermore, individuals are enlightened on avoiding common asthma triggers and improving their quality of life.
Reference List
Abuzakouk, M., Jacob, S. and Ghorab, O. (2020) ‘Are the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Guidelines Being Correctly Used to Diagnose Severe Asthma in the UAE?’, Cureus, pp. 1–5. doi:10.7759/cureus.12278.
Harville, T. (2020) ‘Diagnosing a patient “who did not fit the textbook” for the disease signs and symptoms’, Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 125, pp. 367–368. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2020.08.013.
Viswam, D. and Mansur, A.H. (2022) ‘Mode of onset and triggers of severe asthma: The severe asthma clinic perspective’, Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunolog, 128(4), pp. 466–467. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2022.01.006.