Symptoms Of Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the bronchial mucosa that causes bronchial hyper responsiveness, constriction of the airways, and variable airflow obstruction that is reversible. Asthma occurs at all ages, with approximately half of all cases developing during childhood and another third before age 40 (McCance & Huether, 2014). The most common symptom of asthma is wheezing. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic coughing, chest tightness, and trouble sleeping at night usually due to symptoms. The cause of asthma is unknown, but it can be from genetic predisposition, allergies, environment, and respiratory infections.
Environmental factors include allergens such as house dust mites, pet dander, pollens, molds, tobacco smoke, chemical irritants, and air pollution. The …show more content…
W.’s breath sounds are heard with audible inspiratory and expiratory wheezing to auscultation with no air movement in the lower lobes of the lung. Breath sounds are can be normal or abnormal (adventitious). Breath sounds can indicate problems within the lungs, such as obstructions, inflammation, or infection (Kahn, 2012). Normal breath sounds are heard by using a stethoscope and it sounds like air when a person breathes. There are four abnormal breathing sounds that can be heard with a stethoscope; rhonchi (snoring sounds), rales (clicking, rattling, bubbling), wheezing (high-pitched whistling), and stridor (harsh, vibratory sound). Rales occur when air opens up spaces that are normally closed to airflow. Rhonchi occur when the airways are obstructed. Wheezing occurs when the airways become inflamed and narrowed. Stridor occurs when there is a blockage in the windpipe (Kahn, 2012). An absent breath sound is a medical emergency and can lead to death. As the patient’s condition improves, the breath sounds will become clear on auscultation with a stethoscope; it will sound like air and it cannot be heard audibly without a