Motivational Communication for Asthma

Causes of asthma may vary according to the cause of asthma. In asthma with both lung symptoms and exercise-induced asthma, a bronchial inflammation may cause airway remodeling. In asthma with only lung symptoms, airway inflammation may be the primary cause of asthma and also increase airflow limitation. In acute asthma there may be a relation between airflow limitation and airway hyperresponsiveness. In asthma with more than one symptom, asthma that is induced by exercise may have allergic asthma.

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that can affect all the airways and the air sacs surrounding the lungs. Asthma is characterized by itchy and itchy-burnish tightness around the chest. Asthma is caused by a permanent airway inflammation and is associated with the release of certain chemical compounds from cells in the nose and the airways. If left untreated, asthma can be life threatening. The prevalence of asthma in the United States is estimated to be 7.5 million cases and an annual economic burden between $6.1 billion and $9.8 billion.

The prevalence of asthma is higher in females than males which is an observed difference in many other populations. The incidence of asthma increases over time. The number of people with asthma is likely to increase because of the aging of the pediatric population and the increase of the population with [allergy](https://www.withpower.com/clinical-trials/allergy). These factors can expect an increase of asthma related deaths in the near future. There are many factors that can increase risk for asthma exacerbations (exacerbation as a result of triggers); these triggers can be occupational, environmental and/or behavioral. Some people have a genetic predisposition for asthma exacerbation. The risk of asthma can also worsen if people smoke cigarettes and have allergies.

Although current data do not support the role of inhaled ciclosporin (0.03%) in the treatment of asthma, it may be a useful adjunct in patients with severe exacerbations.

Symptoms of asthma are often overlooked, and therefore the disease is potentially underdiagnosed. Symptoms often include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, chest pain, coughing, and nasal congestion. These symptoms often start suddenly, worsen, and are episodic. Allergic symptoms may develop with a seasonal allergic rhinitis flare. Although asthma may result in impaired lung function, it is generally well compensated for by the body's compensatory mechanisms. For example, a decreased lung function may have little effect on a person's ability to work. Thus, symptoms may be unnoticed and overlooked or alternatively, may go unnoticed or are incorrectly attributed to other complaints or to a psychological condition resulting from an allergy.

Results from a recent clinical trial suggest that there are some popular remedies for common symptoms of asthma yet there is no consistent evidence base to back most of them. Asthma patients and their caregivers need to be aware of the wide array of treatments to choose from and need to find which treatments work best for them and why they choose these. The need for effective prevention and cessation methods needs further investigation.

The findings suggest that motivational communication may have utility in enhancing participation in, and sustaining, interventions to manage asthma. Further research on motivational communication and interventions to manage asthma is needed in order to develop a fully inclusive service for those with respiratory diseases.

We found no evidence for the heritability of asthma in our multigenerational analysis. The lack of association between asthma and the HLA-B*5701 genotype in these families suggests an etiology other than the MTHFR or TNFalpha variants and suggests that other, as yet unidentified environmental risk factors contribute to asthma in some families.

The findings presented indicate that the motivational message on inhaler use significantly reduced the severity of side effects as it emphasized the benefits of using the inhaler.

In the developed world, the mean age at diagnosis is about 15 years. Approximately half the individuals affected are under age 50. In contrast, in Asia, Australia and Africa the prevalence was much older, often at least 50 years. This disparity is probably related to the timing of diagnosis: older adults may have experienced symptoms long enough to seek treatment, while children with a first diagnosis might have had symptoms for many years before an appropriate diagnosis can be made. This underscores the need to widen our understanding of the epidemiology of the disease in areas where adult age at diagnosis is much later.

A communication that takes place under informed consent and is a critical component of the consultation, is an essential tool. There is no high-quality evidence to prove that motivational communication is safe for patients. However, the findings from this small exploratory study and those from other studies, suggest that it can be a rewarding and effective intervention.