Tammy is a 17 year old girl who was just diagnosed with asthma. Asthma is defined as a chronic condition in which the airways narrow, swell, and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath (Staff, 2015). Asthma affects people of all ages, but it usually presents in childhood. There are approximately more than 25 million people living with asthma in the US and 7 million of them are children (NIH, 2014). There is no cure for asthma but the symptoms can be controlled.
Tammy complains of trouble sleeping because of a frequent cough that worsens at night, wheezing while performing cheer routines, and chest tightness with pain and pressure while attempting strenuous exercises. …show more content…
parental history of asthma), environmental factors and even from viruses. Things like dust mites, pets, pollens, and molds can all trigger asthma attacks. Since most of Tammy’s symptoms worsen when exercising and performing outdoors the environmental factors are very likely to be the cause. Asthma attacks can also be triggered by exercise itself, cigarette smoke, changes in air temperature, laughing, and strong smells. Chemicals like diesel exhaust, perfumes, household sprays, and sawdust are all types of irritants that can cause asthma attacks as well (G.I.A.).Women are more likely to have asthma than men and adults with income under $75,000 are more likely to have asthma than those with higher incomes (CDC, 2015). Since Tammy plans on attending college based on scholarship I think she is of a lower socioeconomic income. The added stress Tammy is feeling because of all of her social events combined with the prospects of leaving for college can also be the cause of her having trouble controlling her asthma. This type of acute stress can trigger asthma attacks making the airway between the nose and the lungs constrict so it would be beneficial for Tammy to learn some relaxation and breathing
Tammy complains of trouble sleeping because of a frequent cough that worsens at night, wheezing while performing cheer routines, and chest tightness with pain and pressure while attempting strenuous exercises. …show more content…
parental history of asthma), environmental factors and even from viruses. Things like dust mites, pets, pollens, and molds can all trigger asthma attacks. Since most of Tammy’s symptoms worsen when exercising and performing outdoors the environmental factors are very likely to be the cause. Asthma attacks can also be triggered by exercise itself, cigarette smoke, changes in air temperature, laughing, and strong smells. Chemicals like diesel exhaust, perfumes, household sprays, and sawdust are all types of irritants that can cause asthma attacks as well (G.I.A.).Women are more likely to have asthma than men and adults with income under $75,000 are more likely to have asthma than those with higher incomes (CDC, 2015). Since Tammy plans on attending college based on scholarship I think she is of a lower socioeconomic income. The added stress Tammy is feeling because of all of her social events combined with the prospects of leaving for college can also be the cause of her having trouble controlling her asthma. This type of acute stress can trigger asthma attacks making the airway between the nose and the lungs constrict so it would be beneficial for Tammy to learn some relaxation and breathing