OVERVIEW

Pharmacologic Management of Asthma is organized by Western Schools.

Release Date: January 2, 2018
Expiration Date: January 31, 2021

Credits: 2 Hours

Description:
Although asthma is a lifelong disease with no cure, it can be controlled. This program converges on general pharmacologic interventions for managing asthma as recommended by National Asthma Education Prevention Program (NAEPP) issued the Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma – Full Report 2007 (NHBLI, 2007) and the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines (2017), which are considered the “gold standard” for treating and managing asthma.

Asthma medicines are used to prevent and control symptoms, to reduce the frequency and severity of acute attacks, and to reverse acute airflow obstruction. Asthma medicines are grouped into two general classes: quick-relief (rescue) and long-term control. Asthma therapy should match the severity of asthma symptoms. Persons classified as having intermittent asthma who are encountering mild symptoms and those with exercise-induced asthma should be treated with quick-relief medication on an as-needed basis. Those with determined symptoms should additionally obtain a long-term controller medication or medications (intended to be used daily) for asthma control.

Course Objectives:
• Define the role of quick-relief medications in the treatment of asthma and their side effects.
• Explain long-term control medications in the treatment of asthma and their side effects.
• Consider the stepwise approach to medication therapy based on asthma severity levels.
• Explain the vaccines recommended for persons with asthma.
• Define the different techniques for asthma medication administration.