Week 2 Health Issues Asthma

Health Issues Week 2

Asthma is a condition characterized by unpredictable and disabling shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest. It features episodic attacks of bronchospasm (prolonged contractions of the bronchial smooth muscle), and is a complex disorder involving biochemical, autonomic, immunologic, infectious, endocrine, and psychological factors to varying degrees in different individuals. Asthma affects about 300 million people worldwide. Asthma occurs in families, suggesting that there is a genetic predisposition for the disorder, although the exact mode of genetic transmission remains unclear. The environment appears to play an important role in the expression of the disorder.
Mind/body therapies have shown promise in treating asthma. They have been used as effective complementary therapies alongside such conventional treatments. Mind/body therapies have also been shown to increase quality of life, reduce pain, and improve symptoms for people with chronic diseases and health conditions. They may also help control and reverse certain diseases, particularly those that are stress-related. By reducing stress, mind/body therapies may even prevent many diseases. Another benefit of mind/body therapies is that they pose very little risk.

Art therapy intervention was used in a randomized controlled trial in children with asthma. The was the first randomized trial with only asthmatic patients demonstrating that children with asthma receive benefit from art therapy that includes decreased anxiety and increased quality of life. Concluding improved problem-solving and affect drawing scores; improved worry, communication, and total quality of life scores; and improved Beck anxiety and self concept scores in the active group relative to the control group.

Speaking directly to the psychological factors; I have seen firsthand a small child who entertains positive visual imagery and self talk actually reverse an asthma attack without medication. In essence, rethink an asthmatic episode, simply by changing a channel in his/her thoughts.  Getting off the station portraying “I can’t breathe I’m going to die” and getting on the station that promotes relaxation and well-being. Meditation and art play can be when utilized an important factor in changing the course of an asthma attack.

 Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Volume 126, Issue 2, August 2010, Pages 263-266.e1
Anya Beebe, Erwin W. Gelfand, Bruce Bender

The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine  

Ed. Laurie J. Fundukian. Vol. 3. 4^th ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2014. p1615-1620. COPYRIGHT 2014 Gale, Cengage Learning Douglas Dupler and Teresa G. Odle