32 minutes

Find out how beta2 agonists, anticholinergics, antileukotrienes, xanthine bronchodilators, and corticosteroids work to relieve symptoms and prevent exacerbations in your patients with asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. And learn how these actions should affect your nursing care before, during, and after drug therapy.

With this DVD, you'll learn:

• which drugs are used to treat an acute exacerbation of asthma and which ones are reserved for continuing therapy
• how albuterol relaxes bronchial smooth muscles, causing bronchodilation and improved airflow
• how the stepwise approach guides asthma treatment
• how leukotriene inhibitors, such as zafirlukast, reduce airway inflammation by preventing cysteinyl leukotrienes from engaging with receptors
• which inhalers should be used with a spacer and which ones should be inhaled directly from the mouthpiece
• how ipratropium prevents acetylcholine from stimulating cholinergic receptors on smooth-muscle cell membranes, thus reducing mucus production
• how mast-cell stabilizers, such as cromolyn, prevent the release of histamine and other inflammatory substances
• how to safely administer corticosteroids by inhalation, intravenously, or orally......and much, much more.