Living with Asthma :: Medical Medicine Respiratory Essays

Living with Asthma missing works cited The weather in Boston is just beginning to feel cooler as Maeve Vaillancourt, a Northeastern University sophomore rushes to her first class of the day. Although she is already behind schedule, she huddles in a corner to take a dose of her Abuterol inhaler, then finishes her ten-minute walk and slips into class late. â€Å"I hate taking my inhaler in public, because it is embarrassing, but after quick walks like that, I need to or else I feel as if I can’t breathe,† said Vaillancourt. Vaillancourt has been suffering from asthma since she was diagnosed at the age of 9. She is one of 18.2 million adults age 18 years and older with this illness according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Over seven million children ages 0-17 have asthma. Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system that leads to inflammation of the bronchial tubes, resulting in difficulty carrying air to the lungs. Asthma greatly affects an individual’s breathing, and can place severe restrictions on daily life. During asthma attacks, which may be triggered by weather, allergens, exercise, the individuals’ ability to breathe becomes difficult. As a young, active college student, Vaillancourt’s battle with asthma plays a role in her day-to-day life, beyond just her walks to class. â€Å"I don’t think of inhalers as medicine. I bring it out everywhere; itis like a wallet, or cash,† said Vaillancourt, who suffers from mild asthma. â€Å"If I don’t bring it out, I panic and actually make my asthma worse.† Like most who suffer mild asthma, Vaillancourt is prescribed two inhalers. One is a preventative inhaler, Advair; and the other is her emergency inhaler, Albuterol. Advair is used to prevent an attack from occurring. It contains the steroid, fluticasone, which prevents inflammation that leads to asthma attacks; and salmeterol, which is abronchodilator, to relax muscles to improve breathing.Albuterol is also a bronchodilator, used to treat bronchospasms as they are occurring. Vaillancourt takes Advair, her preventative inhaler, and once in the morning and once before she goes to bed, as well as before exercising. Although she knows it is important Vaillancourt said she â€Å"often has trouble remembering and keeping up with taking the inhaler.† Vaillancourt has noticed that since she has been living in Boston and consistently walking, especially in cool weather, she is more likely to remember her inhalers since she is more likely to need them.