Continued from Page 2

Those who support the hygiene hypothesis propose that children who are around other children and animals early in life are exposed to microbes, which help their immune systems to mature and develop, and their immune systems develop more tolerance for the irritants that cause asthma.

“While those who support this hypothesis don’t recommend letting our children become critically ill, it does raise the possibility that preventing early diseases through vaccinations and antibiotics may not allow our immune systems to mature properly,” Traver said. “We are a society that definitely prides itself on being ultraclean and using antibacterial soaps, and maybe this isn’t always best.”

Looking back over the last 40 years of asthma management, Traver notes that dramatic improvements have been made in patient care.

“Years ago, we only saw asthma patients who were having acute severe exacerbations and there was little chronic management or emphasis on prevention,” she said. “When we did treat these exacerbations, the medications we used had many more side effects than those available today.”

Traver sees a growing need for nurses who are more knowledgeable in asthma care to better educate patients.“Working with asthma patients is a constant education process,” she said. “If we can help patients effectively manage their symptoms and recognize triggers, we can prevent them from progressing to the point of chronic airway obstruction.”

Lisa Nicoud, RN, director of critical care services at North Vista Hospital in Las Vegas, says that despite advances made in asthma care, many patients continue to be plagued by the stigma of being labeled asthmatic.

“Many patients don’t see having asthma as a lifelong condition that constantly needs to be monitored,” she said. “As nurses, I think we have a responsibility to impress the seriousness of the condition upon patients.”

Nicoud would also like to see programs that track noncompliant patients. “We have patients who come into the hospital for an asthma attack and then we don’t see them until their next flare-up,” she said. “I’d like to see us address the emotional aspects of asthma and offer more support groups and educational resources for patients.”

To comment on this story, send e-mail to editorca@nurseweek.com.

Additional information and fact sheets on asthma are available on the American Lung Association website at www.lungusa.org. For more information on asthma education classes for nurses or volunteer opportunities within the American Lung Association, call (800) LUNG-USA.