Problem
A 37-year-old woman tells you that she has a history of asthma. She tells you that she is generally well and only uses Albuterol on occasion. However, she has been feeling wheezy since she has moved into her boyfriend's apartment. He has a cat.
Medical History:
Allergic to pollen, dust, dogs
Hospitalized for asthma one year ago for 2 days.
Family History:
Asthma: mom, dad
Hypertension: mom, dad.
Social History:
Smokes weed once a week, no cigarette smoking.
Using the midwifery management process;
1) What data would support her self-diagnosis of asthma? What factors in her presentation are relevant? Can you add other differential diagnoses for your case?
2) What level of asthma severity does she have? Look at the Asthma Guidelines found in this unit. Justify how you arrived at your determination of her stage of asthma and level of control.
3) What is the midwifery management for this patient if her self-assessment is confirmed by your data collection?
4) What is the underlying physiology of wheezing and cough (assuming this is asthma)?
5) What are the common ways to measure lung function and the normal values of these tests?
6) What is the medication management for her asthma and allergy symptoms?