How to test for asthma?

Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
Updated on January 27, 2025
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Asthma is fully referred to as bronchial asthma. It is primarily due to the presence of inflammatory cells in the airways over a long period of time. These inflammatory cells render the trachea highly reactive. With this hyperreactivity, patients often experience wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which typically occur in the early morning and at night. These symptoms can generally be alleviated with or without medication, and if a patient typically exhibits these symptoms, an asthma diagnosis can essentially be made. However, if the symptoms are atypical, such as having only coughing or wheezing, it may be necessary to perform some pulmonary function tests, chest X-rays, ultrasounds, or electrocardiograms on the patient to rule out other diseases that could cause wheezing and coughing. Therefore, doctors will arrange for these tests based on the patient's symptoms.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Is variant asthma allergic asthma?

Cough-variant asthma is not allergic asthma, although it is a type of allergic asthma. Generally speaking, there is a certain distinction between cough-variant asthma and allergic asthma. Clinically, cough-variant asthma is a special type of asthma, where the main symptom exhibited by patients is an irritative dry cough, typically quite severe, without other significant clinical discomforts. In contrast, patients with allergic asthma usually exhibit symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, and itchy nose before the onset, triggered by exposure to certain allergens. Cough-variant asthma does not have these preliminary signs, marking a clear difference from allergic asthma.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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What should I do for asthma cough?

If a patient has asthma accompanied by coughing, it is advisable to receive treatment under a doctor’s guidance through nebulizer inhalation to alleviate symptoms, or take some antitussive and asthma-relieving medications. In daily life, one should also ensure ample rest, avoid vigorous exercise and heavy physical work, and it is best to identify the cause of the illness under a doctor's guidance for symptomatic treatment. It is recommended to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables to supplement vitamins and improve one's immunity. Additionally, if the coughing is severe, drinking some Fritillaria and pear syrup, which also helps moisten the lungs and relieve cough and asthma, may be appropriate. Therefore, it is advised to maintain a relaxed mood, avoid excessive stress, and actively cooperate with treatment for symptom recovery.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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Can asthma be cured?

So far, there is no known cure for bronchial asthma, and it is estimated that curing asthma within the next ten or twenty years will be very challenging. Therefore, any methods or medications claimed to treat or cure bronchial asthma found on any search engine cannot be trusted. We often encounter many people who, influenced by various advertisements, such as flyers, television, and even some newspapers, take medications containing powders that may control asthma temporarily. However, this can increase the risk of future control issues and cause many adverse reactions. Through these reactions, we can infer that these may contain oral steroids. Although oral steroids can indeed be used to control asthma, their use is subject to strict indications, and they are generally not the first choice for asthma control. Therefore, if you have asthma, you must seek standard treatment in a qualified hospital instead of self-medicating through any means, as this is inadvisable.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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What should I do about asthma?

The full name of asthma is bronchial asthma, which is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs involving various inflammatory cells. The main symptoms of asthma include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which typically occur in the early morning and at night. These symptoms can subside on their own through medication treatment or even without medication. Thus, by diagnosing asthma, it is understood that asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. After contracting this disease, the main treatment involves inhaling medications for asthma to control its symptoms. Additionally, if the asthma is caused by an allergic condition, such as an allergy to certain foods or airborne allergens like pollen and dust mites, it is advisable to first avoid these allergens to ensure a clean air environment, and then control or eliminate the symptoms with medication treatment. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Which is more serious, bronchial asthma or asthma?

Bronchial asthma, commonly referred to as asthma, is generally considered non-comparable as both terms describe the same disease, just with different names. Clinically, asthma often occurs in young infants, and is typically linked to environmental factors and genetic predispositions. Patients with bronchial asthma may exhibit recurring symptoms such as rapid breathing, chest tightness, coughing, and shortness of breath during attacks. It is crucial for such patients to eliminate triggering factors and to receive timely treatment with anti-allergy medications, bronchodilators, and cough suppressants to manage the symptoms. With prompt and effective treatment, the symptoms caused by the disease can be effectively controlled.