Asthma can be defined as a disease of airway smooth muscle, characterized by episodic bronchospasm occurring in response to a variety of specific and non-specific stimuli (e.g., allergens, methacholine, air pollution, exercise, cigarette smoke, and cold air) Rees and Price (1995:1). This essay will discuss the pathophysiology of asthma to give an insight into the process of the condition, and review the statistics of the prevalence and incidence of asthma in Scotland. Risk factors that can influence the onset of an asthma attack will also be discussed regarding triggers and genetics. A primary prevention study and a secondary prevention study in asthma will also be reported and the findings will be discussed. A Prevention programme in asthma management will also be discussed looking at the role of the nurse in an asthma clinic and the purpose of asthma clinics for an asthma sufferer. Possible strategies for prevention will also be discussed looking at assessment and risk assessment, specific interventions aimed to reduce th

• Effectiveness of asthma medications

Some topics in this essay:
Holgate Pauwels, ATSDR20023 Sensitive, Scotland Risk, Walji Kingston, Secondary Prevention, Weather Cold, Asthma Audit, Bush Georgitis, Registry ATSDR, Asthma Campaign, peak flow, asthma clinic, discussed looking, lung function, asthma attack, asthma triggers, primary prevention, asthma symptoms, dry powder, secondary prevention, peak flow meter, dry powder inhalers, national asthma campaign, nurse run asthma, asthma audit 20012003,