athma

Question 1

symptoms

Answer 1

-wheezing
-breathlessness
-a tight chest-it may feel like a band is tightening around it
-coughing
many symptoms can be caused by other things
-happen often and keep coming back
-worse at night and early in morning
-seems to happen in response to an asthma trigger like exercise or an allergy-pollen, animal fur

Question 2

causes

Answer 2

unknown, however, genetics, pollution and moderate hygiene standards have been suggested as causes but not enough evidence to prove.

things that increase risk
-family history
-having allergy related conditions-hey fever, eczema
exposure to tobacco as a child
-your mother smoking during pregnancy
-being born prematurely/low birth weight

Question 3

treatments

Answer 3

treatment to control symptoms:
inhalers(reliver, preventer)- devises that help you breath in medicine=main treatment
tablets and other treatments may also be needed if your asthma is severe

most people will be given a reliver inhaler (blue) and you use this to treat the symptoms occurring and should work in few minutes

you use a preventer (brown) inhaler everyday to reduce the inflammation and sensitivity of your airways which stop symptoms occurring and should use it even if you do not have any symptoms at the time(brown contains steroid medicine)

combination inhalers

Question 4

diagnostic techniques

Answer 4

seeing a GP- may suggest dong some tests for asthma
-FeNO test- breathing into a machine that measures levels of nitric oxide in your breath
-Spirometry- blow into a machine that measures how fast you can breathe out and how much air you hold in your lungs
Peak flow- similar but hand held