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How Do I manage a patient with asthma?

Asthma  

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This medical Condition Consult is presented by the JCDA Oasis Team

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease associated with increased airway hyper-responsiveness. Patients are sensitive to a variety of stimuli (e.g., cold air, salicylates, NSAIDs, cholinergic drugs, beta-adrenergic blocking drugs).

LA

No information available to require special precautions.

 
Drug Interactions

Prescribe the following with caution, due to likely adverse reactions:

1. NSAIDs, ASA-containing medications: Samter triad syndrome, an association of ASA sensitivity, ASA-induced asthma, nasal polyposis or sinusitis.

2. Barbiturates, narcotics: may precipitate an asthma attack.

 
Precipitating Asthma Factors
  • Sulfite preservatives
  • A coughing reflex and prolonged supine positioning. Consider semisupine chair position.
  • Materials with powder components (e.g., alginate and allergens used in latex gloves)
  • Severe stress
  • Patient taking beta blockers
Signs of an attack
  • Inability to finish sentences with one breath
  • Coughing, chest tightness, wheezing
  • Patient becomes anxious and agitated
Scheduling visits
  • To minimize the risk of an asthma attack, schedule late morning or late afternoon appointments.
  • Patient should take prescribed inhalational agents as instructed by family physician and/or respirologist.
Oral manifestations
  • Caries and gingivitis
  • Oral candidiasis
  • Acid reflux

Follow-up: What further information would you like on this topic?  Email us at jcdaoasis@cda-adc.ca

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2 Comments

  1. Louise April 8, 2013

    -Minimize stress during the treatment
    -Avoid too much horizontal chair position that can induce resistance to breathing

    Reply
  2. Michael Treloar November 6, 2019

    Keep up the great work! Thank you so much for sharing a great posts.

    Reply

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