Asthma & Pneumonia

Asthma

Asthma is a condition in which the patients airways narrow and swell, and produce extra mucus. It makes the the patients breathing difficult and triggers coughing, a whistling sound (often referred to as wheezing) when they breathe in and out, and results in shortness of breath.

In 2020, according to Statista, 2.8 million Canadians were diagnosed with Asthma. This represents 7.4% of the Canadian population (38.1million) in 2020.

According to the Asthma Canada Asthma Attack Toolkit Asthma is the result the muscles surrounding the airways tighten and your airways become too narrow for you to breathe effectively.

An attack can happen suddenly if your asthma is not under control and you are exposed to one of your triggers. Or, it can build up slowly over hours, days or even weeks before triggering.

When an Asthma Attack occurs, most persons who have previously been diagnosed with Asthma, will use what is referred to as a Rescue Inhaler to alleviate the attack. Rescue Inhalers have to be prescribed to the patient by a physician.

For some patients Asthma is a nuisance, for other it can pose a serious health situation. There is currently no known cure for Asthma.

Asthma Canada Breathe Easy Diagnosis: Do you have Asthma: Get the Answers guide has been developed to provide Canadians with current and accurate information about Asthma and Asthma management.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses (Influenza), or fungi. It is serious life threatening illness where the air sacs of the lung fill with pus and other liquid.

Influenza, also known as the Flu, is one of the most common infectious disease and impact thousands of Canadians annually. While the majority of cases are not severe and most people recover without treatment, Influenza can contribute to the development of more serious illnesses.

It is considers to be one of leading cause of Pneumonia in Canada. According to Statista Pneumonia is the 8th leading cause of death in Canada.

Oxford Handbook of Respiratory Nursing by Terry Robinson (Editor); Jane Scullion (Editor)
Call Number: E-Book
ISBN: 9780199226238
Publication Date: 2009-03-15
Chapter 7: Asthma and allergies: Managing acute asthma--adults.
Chapter 17: 17 Pneumonia
Pneumonia by Micaela L. Suárez (Editor); Steffani M. Ortega (Editor)
Call Number: E-Book
ISBN: 9781612096858
Publication Date: 2011-11-01
Pneumonia, an inflammatory condition of the lung, is one of the most common serious infections, causing two million deaths annually among young and old alike. This book studies the symptoms, diagnoses and treatment of pneumonia. Topics discussed include the modes of supportive treatment in patients with pneumonia; pneumocystis jirovecii in AIDS patients; nosocomial pneumonia surveillance and prevention in PICU and NICU; ventilator-associated pneumonia; community acquired staphylococcal pneumonia associated with influenza and radiological patterns of pulmonary infections.

Pneumonia in Older Adults
CINAHL Nursing Guide

Asthma by Adelina H. Bislimi; Lulezime C. Tolka (Editor)
Call Number: E-Book
ISBN: 9781622574476
Publication Date: 2012-08-01
Asthma is a complex disorder characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, airflow obstruction, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and underlying inflammation. Although asthma is commonly thought of as a disease of children and young adults, a significant percentage of the older adult population is affected and carry a higher rate of morbidity and mortality from the disease. This book examines the causes, complications and treatment of asthma with topics including mathematical modelling in aspirin-induced asthma; the role of neuroimmune and psychological systems in the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma; special considerations of asthma in older adults; changes in the respiratory epithelium in bronchial asthma; and epidemiology of asthma during pregnancy.
Pediatric Asthma: a Clinical Support Chart by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Call Number: E-Book
ISBN: 9781610026147
Publication Date: 2022-05-30
This convenient reference provides clinicians with point-of-care guidance on the assessment and treatment of chronic and acute asthma in infants, toddlers, school-aged children, and young adults. It covers signs and symptoms, triggers, diagnostic considerations, office pulmonary testing, clinical index tools, stepped approaches to treatment by age, maintenance and control, exacerbation assessment, and more. Topics include Approach to Evaluation Diagnosis Office Pulmonary Function Testing Exacerbation Assessment Respiratory Scoring Tools Classifying Severity by Age Intervention Overview NIH/NHLBI Stepwise Approaches to Management GINA Stepped Approaches to Treatment Maintenance and Control SABAs Inhaled Corticosteroids LABAs and LTRAs Inhaled Anticholinergic Agents Systemic Corticosteroids Anti-immunoglobulin E Therapy Other Biologics Trigger Management Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction Asthma Control Test Tobacco Use/Vaping and Asthma Get Valid Spirometry Results Every Time
Preventing Transmission of Pandemic Influenza and Other Viral Respiratory Diseases by Elaine L. Larson (Editor); Catharyn T. Liverman (Editor); Institute of Medicine Staff; Board on Health Sciences Policy Staff; Committee on Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Personnel to Prevent Transmission of Pandemic Influenza and Other Viral Respiratory Infections: Current Research Issues
Call Number: E-Book
ISBN: 9780309162548
Publication Date: 2011-05-26
In 2009, the H1N1 influenza pandemic brought to the forefront the many unknowns about the virulence, spread, and nature of the virus, as well as questions regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare personnel. In this book, the Institute of Medicine assesses the progress of PPE research and identifies future directions for PPE for healthcare personnel.

HealthLink BC - Asthma
Information rich website on most aspects of Asthma.
HealthLink BC - Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can make you very sick. You may cough, have a fever, and have trouble breathing. It often clears up in a few weeks with treatment. It can usually be treated at home. But some people, like older adults and babies, may need to go to the hospital.
Canadian Lung Association
The Canadian Lung Association is the leading organization in Canada working to promote lung health and prevent and manage lung disease. They do this by funding vital research, providing education and information, pushing for improved treatments, smarter policies, or supporting patients in managing their health. Valuable information for your presentations and Conditions Reports can be found under the Lung Health section including information about how Lungs work, preventing Lung disease, Lung Diseases A-Z, how to use an inhaler, and vaccination.
Asthma Canada
Asthma Canada is a leading organization involved in the education Canadians about the Asthma. This website included information how to tell if you have Asthma, information for persons who are newly diagnosed with Asthma, Medications and Treatment, Common Asthma Triggers, Asthma in children, Severe Asthma, the the interrelationship between, flu, pneumonia, and COVID-19 and Asthma, and Nasal Polyps and Asthma.
Asthma Canada - Asthma Attack Toolkit
Asthma Canada’s Asthma Attack toolkit guides you through symptoms of an asthma attack, what to do in an asthma attack, and what steps to take after the attack to protect your health.
Astham Canada - Asthma Control Toolkit
This digital toolkit includes education about asthma control, an Asthma Red & Yellow Flags Checklist to reflect on your symptoms, and an Asthma Action Plan.
Asthma Canada - Children’s Asthma Action Plan
An Asthma Action Plan is a strategy that you can use to identify when your asthma may be flaring up and how to manage your asthma when it gets out of control. Studies have shown that having a written agreement with your healthcare provider helps you manage your asthma at home. Take this sample action plan with you to your next appointment to start a discussion.
Asthma Canada - Red and Yellow Flags Checklist
Asthma Canada checklist of Asthma Symptoms
Asthma Canada - Triggers
Asthma Canada’s Breathe Easy booklet series: Allergies covers allergic triggers and non-allergic triggers, steps that can be taken to improve asthma control, and a checklist to use when planning changes to a home environment.
Asthma Canada - Breathe Easy Allergies
Asthma Canada’s Breathe Easy booklet series: Allergies explains the connection between asthma and respiratory allergies as well as ways to treat and manage respiratory allergies and minimize exposure.
Asthma Canada - Breathe Easy Medications
Provides information on the common asthma medications and their side effects. Also highlights the various inhalers available and how to use them.
Asthma Canada - Living Well with Asthma as an Older Adult
This booklet is designed for older adults to best understand asthma so they can ask the right questions to get the best care possible.

Number of Canadians who reported being diagnosed with asthma from 2003 to 2020
Provides statistical data on the incidence of Asthma from 2003 - 2020 for Canadian 12-years and older in Canada.
Statista - Influenza and pneumonia in Canada - Statistics & Facts
The rate of death from influenza and pneumonia also varies each year. From 2000 to 2020, the lowest rate of influenza and pneumonia deaths was 15 per 100,000 population in 2010, with a high of 23.2 per 100,000 population in the year 2018. Over this period, women had higher rates of death due to influenza and pneumonia than men for every year except for 2020, in which the death rate for both men and women was 15.6 per 100,000 population. Rates of death from influenza and pneumonia increase significantly with age, with the death rate for those aged 90 years and older reaching almost 618 per 100,000 population in 2020, compared to a rate of just 14 per 100,000 among those aged 65 to 69.
Statista - Death rate from influenza and pneumonia in Canada in 2021, by age(per 100,000 population)
In 2021, the highest death rate from influenza and pneumonia in Canada per 100,000 population was reported among those aged 90 years and older, with around 425 deaths. Individuals between 85 and 89 years followed, with a mortality rate from influenza and pneumonia of 155.7 deaths per 100,000 people. This statistic displays the death rate from influenza and pneumonia per 100,000 population in Canada during 2021, by age.

Health Care Assistant (HCA) - Kelowna - 2024

Asthma & Pneumonia

Asthma

Asthma is a condition in which the patients airways narrow and swell, and produce extra mucus. It makes the the patients breathing difficult and triggers coughing, a whistling sound (often referred to as wheezing) when they breathe in and out, and results in shortness of breath.

In 2020, according to Statista, 2.8 million Canadians were diagnosed with Asthma. This represents 7.4% of the Canadian population (38.1million) in 2020.

According to the Asthma Canada Asthma Attack Toolkit Asthma is the result the muscles surrounding the airways tighten and your airways become too narrow for you to breathe effectively.

An attack can happen suddenly if your asthma is not under control and you are exposed to one of your triggers. Or, it can build up slowly over hours, days or even weeks before triggering.

When an Asthma Attack occurs, most persons who have previously been diagnosed with Asthma, will use what is referred to as a Rescue Inhaler to alleviate the attack. Rescue Inhalers have to be prescribed to the patient by a physician.

For some patients Asthma is a nuisance, for other it can pose a serious health situation. There is currently no known cure for Asthma.

Asthma Canada Breathe Easy Diagnosis: Do you have Asthma: Get the Answers guide has been developed to provide Canadians with current and accurate information about Asthma and Asthma management.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses (Influenza), or fungi. It is serious life threatening illness where the air sacs of the lung fill with pus and other liquid.

Influenza, also known as the Flu, is one of the most common infectious disease and impact thousands of Canadians annually. While the majority of cases are not severe and most people recover without treatment, Influenza can contribute to the development of more serious illnesses.

It is considers to be one of leading cause of Pneumonia in Canada. According to Statista Pneumonia is the 8th leading cause of death in Canada.

This is a video from the British Red Cross. In Canada, as you know we call 911 instead of 999.

Canadian Red Cross Asthma Attack First Aid.