Nursing Prioritization Delegation Assignment Q 29
You are providing care for a patient with recently diagnosed asthma. Which key points would you be sure to include in your teaching plan for this patient? Select all that apply.
A. Avoid potential environmental asthma triggers such as smoke.
B. Use the inhaler 30 minutes before exercising to prevent bronchospasm.
C. Wash all bedding in cold water to reduce and destroy dust mites.
D. Be sure to get at least 8 hours of rest and sleep every night.
E. Avoid foods prepared with monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Correct Answer: A, B, D, and E.
Asthma comprises a range of diseases and has a variety of heterogeneous phenotypes. The recognized factors that are associated with asthma are a genetic predisposition, specifically a personal or family history of atopy (propensity to allergy, usually seen as eczema, hay fever, and asthma).
Option A: Environmental control is vital if one wants to avoid recurrent attacks. Allergen avoidance can significantly improve the quality of life. This means avoiding tobacco, dust mites, animals, and pollen.
Option B: Medical management includes bronchodilators like beta-2 agonists and muscarinic antagonists (salbutamol and ipratropium bromide respectively) and anti-inflammatories such as inhaled steroids (usually beclomethasone but steroids via any route will be helpful).
Option C: Bedding should be washed in hot water to destroy dust mites. Put bed sheets, pillows cases, clothes, curtains, drapes, and other washable fabrics through a wash setting between 130° and 140°F (54° to 60°C) in order to kill them and remove their fecal matter and skin particles.
Option D: Whether it’s due to the symptoms of asthma or just staying up too late, missing sleep can make asthma worse. Sleep loss promotes inflammation in the body and affects lung function, increasing the chances of an asthma attack.
Option E: Foods that contain high concentrations of MSG include stock cubes, gravy, soy sauce and packet soups. Hydrolyzed vegetable protein is sometimes added to foods in place of MSG, and may trigger asthma in people who are sensitive to MSG.