Can bronchial asthma be inherited?

Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 08, 2024
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The etiology of asthma is still very unclear, but genetics may indeed be related to bronchial asthma to some extent. Currently, a lot of research data indicates that the incidence rate of bronchial asthma is higher among the relatives of patients than in the general population, and the closer the familial relationship, the higher the incidence rate and potentially more severe the condition could be. In layman's terms, this means that if our parents have bronchial asthma, then the likelihood of their children having bronchial asthma is higher than in the general population. However, this is not absolute; it does not mean that if a parent has bronchial asthma, their children will definitely have it. The relationship is not very certain, and the genes related to bronchial asthma are also not very clear at present. Bronchial asthma is also related to many other factors.

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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 Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Is bronchial asthma airflow limitation reversible?

The airflow limitation in bronchial asthma is completely reversible, which is related to the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the occurrence of bronchial asthma. Bronchial asthma is a chronic airway inflammation involving multiple inflammatory cells. When this airway inflammation occurs, there can be edema of the airway mucosa as well as spasm and contraction of the smooth muscles outside the bronchi. However, this inflammation and smooth muscle spasm are reversible through medication or spontaneous improvement. Thus, many patients with mild asthma can achieve symptom relief without medication. In the case of some severe patients, even though the airflow is restricted, it can be reversed with the use of medications, and generally, the recovery is very quick.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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How to cure bronchial asthma completely?

Bronchial asthma is mainly characterized by recurrent symptoms of chest tightness, wheezing, breathing difficulties, and coughing, which often cause significant distress to patients. So, is it possible to completely cure bronchial asthma, and are there any methods for a complete cure? Unfortunately, at present, bronchial asthma cannot be completely cured and there are no specific treatments for it. The main goal of current treatments is to control symptoms with asthma medications, prevent worsening of the condition, maintain normal lung function as much as possible, and preserve the patient's normal work and life capabilities, while also minimizing adverse drug reactions.

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Written by Xia Bao Jun
Pulmonology
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Consequences of worsening bronchial asthma

The consequences of exacerbated bronchial asthma can cause the patient to feel short of breath even at rest, exhibit orthopnea, and be able to speak only in single words or syllables. The patient may experience anxiety or irritability, sometimes accompanied by profuse sweating, and an increased respiratory rate which, if severe, can exceed 30 breaths per minute. There may also be activity of the respiratory muscles and signs of tracheal tugging, an increased heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute, which in severe cases can surpass 120 beats. Additionally, there is a decrease in blood oxygen saturation, which can drop below 60%.

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Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
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Can bronchial asthma be treated with nebulization?

Patients with bronchial asthma can undergo nebulization, especially pediatric asthma patients who are more suited for nebulizer therapy. Nebulization inhalation is currently a safe and effective method for treating childhood asthma and is listed by the World Health Organization as the first choice for global asthma prevention and treatment. For severe asthma during acute exacerbations and attack periods, nebulization therapy is not recommended. When using nebulization therapy, it is important to regularly disinfect the nebulizer and replace it periodically. During severe bronchospasm, it is important to avoid using excessive doses of receptor agonists, and care should be taken to avoid too low drug concentrations during nebulization, as it is not conducive to the effectiveness of the treatment.