Can people with asthma swim?

Written by Liu Jing Jing
Pulmonology
Updated on November 04, 2024
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Asthma sufferers can swim. In fact, swimming is a very beneficial form of exercise for respiratory diseases. It can enhance the respiratory tract's ability to resist diseases and increase lung function. Asthma is an allergic reaction triggered by exposure to allergens, causing bronchial smooth muscle contraction, and patients often exhibit symptoms like coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Swimming can help strengthen the body's resistance and thus reduce the occurrence of asthma attacks. However, some patients may be allergic to chlorine-based disinfectants. When swimming, it is important to be aware of whether the water contains an excessive amount of chlorine disinfectant and whether the water quality is clean, as this could also trigger an acute asthmatic attack.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 22sec home-news-image

What department should I go to for asthma?

What department should you visit for asthma? First, we need to clarify the definition of asthma. The term "asthma" most commonly refers to bronchial asthma, but also to cardiac asthma. Starting with bronchial asthma, it is a respiratory system disease, and the most appropriate department to visit is the Department of Respiratory Medicine. Of course, in the case of an acute attack of bronchial asthma, if the condition of the patient is very severe, then they may choose to visit the emergency department. Additionally, in some areas where there is no Department of Respiratory Medicine available, such as in rural areas or community health centers, patients can only visit a general internal medicine department. As for cardiac asthma, it is a concept that is gradually being phased out. Cardiac asthma, as the name suggests, is associated with cardiovascular system diseases. Under these circumstances, the most fitting department to visit is the Department of Cardiology. Of course, if the patient's condition is critical, then the most suitable choice is still the emergency department, where emergency physicians will decide how to handle the patient's condition based on their specific medical needs.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Asthma: What to Avoid

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways involving various types of cells and cellular components, primarily eosinophils. This eosinophil-dominated inflammation is generally related to allergies. Substances that can trigger airway allergies include common allergens such as pet dander, pollen, dust mites, and mold. Therefore, it is generally recommended that individuals with asthma should avoid contact with these substances. Additionally, during the flu season, it is important to prevent colds by wearing masks to avoid viral infections.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Asthma is not contagious.

It should be correctly recognized that asthma is an autoimmune disease associated with allergic constitution and genetic factors. It is not caused by a substantial pathogenic bacterial infection and generally is not contagious. Therefore, asthma is not contagious. We should have a correct understanding of this disease. During an acute exacerbation, one could choose corticosteroid drugs, as well as antiallergic medications. Symptomatic treatments that relieve asthma symptoms and using oxygen to alleviate hypoxia are also options.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Asthma is a disease.

The full name of asthma is bronchial asthma. It is primarily caused by a variety of inflammatory cells and cellular components involved in chronic airway inflammation. This chronic inflammation can lead to symptoms of airway hyperresponsiveness. The main symptoms present in patients are sudden attacks or exposure to certain irritating factors, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. These symptoms can improve either through medication or spontaneously without medication. A disease with these characteristics is called asthma. Generally, the occurrence of asthma is mainly due to genetic factors and exposure to external allergens. The disease is caused by a combination of internal and external factors. It is generally controllable but not curable, which is important to understand.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 28sec home-news-image

Asthma belongs to what department?

When we talk about asthma, we generally refer to bronchial asthma, which is a respiratory system disease. Therefore, the primary department to consult is, of course, the Department of Respiratory Medicine. If an asthma patient's condition is relatively stable, they can see a respiratory specialist through outpatient services. In hospitals without a Department of Respiratory Medicine, such as community health service centers or township health clinics, they can choose to see a general practitioner, also known as an internist. If an asthma patient suffers an acute attack of bronchial asthma and the condition is critical, they must then visit the Department of Emergency Medicine. The emergency department will decide based on the patient’s condition whether they should be kept for observation in the emergency room, be admitted to the general respiratory department, or be sent to the ICU for further emergency treatment. Additionally, there is another type of asthma known as cardiac asthma, which is a cardiovascular disease. The first choice for these patients is to see a cardiologist, although in severe cases, they should visit the Department of Emergency Medicine.