The causes of bronchial asthma

Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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The causes of bronchial asthma are actually not very clear at present, but current research shows that bronchial asthma is mainly caused by genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors are relatively easier to understand, meaning if parents have a history of bronchial asthma, then their children, grandchildren, and other blood relatives may have a higher chance of developing bronchial asthma than the general population. Additionally, bronchial asthma is also related to environmental factors, such as air pollution, smoking, dust mites, pollen, etc.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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Is it okay to take Chinese medicine for bronchial asthma?

Bronchial asthma can be treated with traditional Chinese medicine, but it is definitely not feasible to treat bronchial asthma only with Chinese medicine without Western medicine. Modern medicine still primarily uses Western medicine, which is the mainstream. Traditional Chinese medicine serves as an auxiliary treatment. Bronchial asthma is a recurrent disease that needs standardized treatment to be controlled. Currently, many unscrupulous businesses are exploiting the banner of traditional Chinese medicine or some ancestral secret formulas to provide non-standard treatments to patients with bronchial asthma, which may contain corticosteroids. Long-term oral intake of their herbal medicines might control bronchial asthma in the short term, but such long-term treatments are definitely non-standard and will lead to future difficulties in controlling the asthma. Therefore, patients with bronchial asthma must receive standardized Western medical treatment and can use traditional Chinese medicine as an auxiliary treatment, but it must be provided by a formal hospital.

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Written by Zeng Xiang Bo
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
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How to check for bronchial asthma?

If there is a suspicion of having bronchial asthma, a series of tests will be carried out at the hospital, mainly including: First, complete blood count, especially focusing on whether there is an increase in eosinophils, to determine the presence of eosinophilic allergic inflammation. Second, imaging of the lungs, including chest X-ray or CT to determine whether there are any specific lesions in the lungs. Third, pulmonary ventilation function and bronchodilation tests, or bronchial provocation tests. Pulmonary function is a gold standard for diagnosing bronchial asthma, often indicating the presence of obstructive ventilation dysfunction. A positive bronchodilation test or provocation test can help in confirming bronchial asthma.

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Written by Zeng Xiang Bo
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
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Treatment for mild bronchial asthma

For the treatment of mild bronchial asthma, the purpose of treatment is to prevent the repeated exacerbation of the condition and to prevent deterioration, as well as to control current symptoms. Regardless of whether the symptoms are present or absent, mild or severe, standardized treatment is needed for these asthma patients. The main treatments are inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators to control the progression of the disease and prevent acute asthma attacks. Of course, we will have an assessment of the condition, whether controlled or not, and based on the grading of the condition, different levels will require different medications for treatment.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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Can bronchial asthma be cured?

Bronchial asthma, to this day, cannot be completely cured. Many places claim under the guise of traditional Chinese medicine or ancient secret recipes that bronchial asthma can be fully cured, but these are false advertisements. So far, bronchial asthma is a manageable disease. Being manageable means that it can be treated; standardized treatment can make its recurrence quite rare, but it still cannot be completely cured. This means that once someone has bronchial asthma, they must understand that it is a lifelong disease, potentially recurring throughout life, and they need to manage it long-term.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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What department to see for bronchial asthma?

Bronchial asthma is a relatively common disease in clinical practice, and its causes are not very clear at present. It is generally believed to be related to genetic and environmental factors. Bronchial asthma often manifests as episodic wheezing, chest tightness, cough, and other symptoms. After developing bronchial asthma, one should visit the respiratory medicine department at a hospital. After the consultation, doctors will use asthma medication to control the symptoms and develop a suitable treatment plan to effectively control the symptoms and improve the quality of life.