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Asthma - Medical Negligence Compensation

Asthma is a lung condition that is caused by narrowing, inflammation and swelling of the bronchial tubes or airways. Asthma can be a minor nuisance or a serious condition, depending on the person and the circumstances. Asthma has no cure but it can be managed with lifestyle changes and medications. Asthma has a tendency to flare up and settle so the sufferer can be caught unaware of the disease onset.

Asthma kills about eleven Americans each day, which amounts to 4000 people per year, some of which are avoidable with the proper care and treatment. Those who are more likely to get asthma attacks are those who are having hormonal changes, such as pregnancy or menopause, those who take postmenopausal estrogen, those who have a certain type of virus leading to flu or colds, those with allergies and those who are exposed to tobacco smoke, dust, mold, perfume or feather beds.

Asthma symptoms can be as mild as a cough or as severe as shortness of breath or death. Signs and symptoms of asthma include tightness or pain in the chest, shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping due to breathing difficulties, coughing made worse by a flu or cold, audible wheezing sounds when a person is exhaling. If your asthma is worsening, you can have more frequent symptoms, increased cough and difficulty breathing and an increased need to use the rescue inhaler.

There are specific subsets of asthma, including exercise-induced asthma (asthma that is brought on by exercise and better at rest), occupational asthma (asthma that is precipitated by gases, dust or chemical fumes) and allergy-related asthma (asthma related to allergens like, cockroaches, pollen or pet dander). Asthma is a combination of hereditary and environmental factors.

Things that trigger asthma are different from person to person. Those things that trigger asthma include:

• Respiratory infections
• Physical activity
• Airborne allergens like mold, dust mites and pollen
• Cold air
• Smoke or other air irritants
• Medications like beta blockers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory conditions, aspirin or other drugs
• Stress
• Menstrual changes
• Sulfites or preservatives
• Sulfites, which preserve certain foods and drinks
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Allergic reactions to foods like shellfish and peanuts

The diagnosis of asthma can be hard because the symptoms aren't always present and asthma can look like other diseases like the flu or colds. Doctors can examine you for wheezing and can listen to the other lung sounds heard. There are two major tests done to determine asthma. The first is spirometry, in which you breathe through a tube and the machine shows the way the lungs exhale. A peak flow meter can detect whether or not a person can breathe out strongly or weakly. It is considered a less effective but cheaper test for asthma. These tests are done before and after a bronchodilator is taken so as to see if there is an improvement with asthma medications.

Less commonly done tests include a methacholine challenge test. Methacholine can trigger wheezing in asthmatics but doesn't affect those who don't have asthma. Nitric oxide testing can also be done. It detects the level of nitric oxide in the breath; nitric oxide is generally higher in asthmatics than in normal people.

The key to asthma treatment is prevention. If you can prevent exposure to the triggers, you are less likely to have problems. Your employer should give you an environment free of allergens and other triggers. There are several medications for asthma. These include long term medications like:

• Inhaled corticosteroids. These block the inflammation of asthma and improve wheezing. You can also use steroids in pill form but there are more systemic effects with this sort of treatment. Inhaled corticosteroids are taken regularly to prevent asthma attacks.
• Leukotriene medications. These include medications like Singulair that prevent asthma symptoms for about 24 hours. Leukotrienes are molecules that contribute to inflammation of the lungs.
• Long acting beta-agonists include Serevent and Foradil. Beta agonists directly open airways of the lungs. These are not used as rescue inhalers but as ways to keep the lung airways open over time.
• Combination inhalers consist of a long acting beta-agonist and a steroid for use in prevention of wheezing complications.
• Theophylline. This is a bronchodilator that is taken as a pill. It relaxes the muscles around the airway but isn't used now as much as years ago.

Fast relief medications include short acting beta-agonists, such as albuterol, ipratropium or Atrovent, which relaxes the airways in asthma attacks and oral or IV steroids, used in serious asthma attacks.