Which department should I go to for bronchial asthma?

Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 25, 2024
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In our common areas, we would visit the Department of Respiratory Medicine for conditions such as bronchial asthma, which is a respiratory system disease. The Department of Respiratory Medicine is the most specialized department for treating bronchial asthma. However, in some areas, such as those below the county level like town health centers or community clinics, a respiratory medicine department might not be available. In such cases, we can only visit the general internal medicine department, also known as the major internal medicine department. Generally, bronchial asthma is treated in the outpatient clinics of these departments. However, if an acute attack of bronchial asthma occurs, causing breathing difficulties and a sudden exacerbation of the condition, it then becomes necessary to visit the emergency medicine department. Emergency doctors will handle the situation and then decide whether the patient should continue treatment under observation in the emergency department or need hospitalization, etc.

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Can people with bronchial asthma eat crab?

Patients with bronchial asthma are not absolutely prohibited from eating crabs, but they should be cautious when doing so. Those with bronchial asthma might be allergic to certain foods, potentially triggering an acute asthma attack, or even severe asthma due to food allergies, which could be life-threatening. Seafood is one of the most common triggers for such allergies. Therefore, it is generally advised for patients with bronchial asthma to avoid seafood. Additionally, foods like fish, shrimp, and crabs can also cause allergies. Thus, patients with bronchial asthma need to be cautious when eating crabs, especially if they have never eaten them before. If they do eat crabs, it should be tried in small amounts. If symptoms such as rash, itchy skin, coughing or chest tightness occur during the consumption of crabs, they should immediately stop eating and, if necessary, appropriate medication should be administered.

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What position should be adopted for bronchial asthma?

The postures of patients with bronchial asthma vary depending on the severity and extent of the attack. For patients with mild symptoms, they can assume any posture they prefer without any impact; they can sleep however they wish. However, during severe asthma attacks, patients are forced to adopt a semi-sitting or upright sitting position to breathe. This isn't a choice, but a necessity when the disease reaches a severe stage, where such positions might slightly ease breathing. Many asthmatic patients cannot lie down at all during serious attacks, as lying down would intensify their chest tightness and breathing difficulties.

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Causes of Bronchial Asthma

The most common cause of bronchial asthma is inhalants, which are mainly found in daily life, such as dust mites, pollen, fungi, and some irritating and toxic gases, all of which may irritate the airways and cause asthma. Infections are closely related to the occurrence of asthma, and respiratory infections such as viruses, bacteria, and mycoplasma can all trigger asthma. Additionally, certain specific foods, such as fish, shrimp, crab, milk, and eggs, may cause asthma in certain groups of people. Factors such as the patient's mental state, changes in the climate, and intense exercise are also possible causes of bronchial asthma. These are the most common causes of bronchial asthma onset.

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What foods are good to eat for bronchial asthma?

What food bronchial asthma patients eat is a question with much consideration. Foods that bronchial asthma patients should avoid mainly fall into two categories: First is allergens. If a patient has previously had an allergy to certain foods, is suspected to be allergic, or has family members who are allergic to a particular food, then they should avoid eating it. Also, common allergens like small fish, shrimp, and seafood should be avoided, especially during asthma attacks. The second category is spicy and irritating foods, which should also be avoided. Therefore, the primary focus should be on eating light, easily digestible foods, and sticking to foods that are commonly eaten, avoiding those that have not been tried before. Moreover, if a food is known to potentially cause allergies after medication, it should not be consumed. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician, and do not self-medicate.)

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Do you need to take anti-inflammatory drugs for bronchial asthma?

Bronchial asthma is a very common asthmatic disease in clinical settings. There are numerous and complex factors that cause bronchial asthma. Therefore, in cases of bronchial asthma caused by bacterial infection leading to symptoms such as cough, phlegm, respiratory distress, and breathlessness, it is necessary to use appropriate anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate these clinical discomforts. If the bronchial asthma is triggered by physical or chemical irritants, such as pollen, mites, animal dander, or harmful gases, leading to varying degrees of cough, breathlessness, respiratory distress, and chest tightness, anti-inflammatory drugs are generally not required. Instead, avoiding triggering factors and providing appropriate medication to relieve bronchial spasms can quickly control the asthma symptoms caused by bronchitis.