majority of their time dealing with the effects everywhere but the doctor’s office. They are on their own, making decisions about diet, exercise and medication adherence. As such, it is vital that patients feel confident and educated enough about their conditions to absorb the accompanying daily responsibilities. The success of the chronic care model will rely on more than changing how doctors interact with their patients. Care management functions can and should also be assigned to different types of providers. Social workers are highly skilled at coordination activities, whereas nurses have more background in medical management and education. Trained peers, community health workers and health navigators are also effective collaborators, given how they draw from personal experience in order to connect with patients. Community health workers have effectively provided screening, monitoring, patient education and self-management support in multiple studies focused on chronic health conditions like diabetes and asthma. Peer support programs have capitalized on the lived experience of individuals with mental health and substance use disorders to offer education and self-management support services to patients, often with positive outcomes. Asthma Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways of the lungs. During normal breathing, the bands of muscle that surround the airways are relaxed and air moves freely. During an asthma episode or “attack,” there are three main changes that stop air from moving easily through the airways: The bands of muscle that surround the airways tighten and narrow the airways. This tightening is called bronchospasm. The lining of the airways becomes swollen or inflamed. The cells that line the airways produce more mucus, which is thicker than normal. These three factors – bronchospasm, inflammation, and mucus production – cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing. What are the most common symptoms of asthma? Asthma symptoms are not the same for everyone. They can even change from episode to episode in the same person. The most common symptoms include: Coughing, especially at night Shortness of breath
Wheezing Chest tightness, pain, or pressure Who is affected by asthma? Asthma affects 22 million Americans; about 6 million of those are children under age 18. People who have a family history of asthma are at an increased risk of developing the disease. Asthma is also more common in people who have allergies or who are exposed to tobacco smoke. However, anyone can develop asthma at any time. Some people may have asthma all of their lives, while others may develop it as adults. “These three factors – bronchospasm, inflammation, and mucus production – cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing.”
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