Symptoms of bronchial asthma

Written by Hao Ze Rui
Pulmonology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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The most common symptoms of bronchial asthma are episodic difficulty in breathing, which can also manifest as episodic chest tightness and coughing. During an asthma attack, there will be accompanying wheezing sounds. If the patient is more severe, they may be forced to sit up to breathe during episodes of breathing difficulties, exhibiting orthopneic breathing. Some patients may experience a dry cough or cough up a large amount of white foamy sputum. In severe cases, symptoms of hypoxia such as cyanosis of the lips and nail discoloration can occur. Asthma attacks are generally acute, with symptoms appearing within minutes, but they can also begin more slowly, worsening over several hours or days. Asthma generally relieves itself, or even after relieving, it may recur, typically worsening during the night.

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Which antibody will increase in bronchial asthma?

Bronchial asthma is a type of chronic allergic inflammation of the airway, commonly referred to as allergic inflammation. Therefore, in laboratory tests, there will be an increase in some antibodies, among which the two main types are the first category being IgE antibodies, which usually exceed 200 IU/ml. The elevation of IgE antibodies indicates that the body is in an allergic state; the other type of antibody is specific antibodies, for example, if I am allergic to fungi, then my fungal antibody levels will be elevated, and if I am allergic to peanuts, then testing for specific peanut antibodies will show an increase. Thus, it is a type of specific antibody that indicates an allergy to certain substances.

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Prevention and Treatment of Bronchial Asthma

The prevention and treatment of bronchial asthma mainly involve the following aspects: First, eliminating the causes and triggers of the disease; second, preventing diseases and pests such as allergic rhinitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease; third, immunomodulation; fourth, routinely checking if inhaled medications are used correctly; fifth, education and management of asthma patients, mainly allowing them through long-term, appropriate, and sufficient treatment to fully and effectively control asthma attacks. Additionally, understanding individual differences in asthma triggers to avoid occurrences, learning patient self-monitoring of disease progression, mastering the use of inhalers and peak flow meters, and educating patients on simple self-help methods are essential. It's important for patients and doctors to jointly develop a plan to prevent asthma attacks and maintain long-term stability. These are the basic elements of the prevention and treatment of bronchial asthma.

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Clinical symptoms of bronchial asthma

The incidence of bronchial asthma is increasing year by year and is attracting more and more attention. What are the clinical symptoms of bronchial asthma? The typical symptoms of bronchial asthma are episodic dyspnea, wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, etc., and a typical asthma attack often comes with wheezing sounds. Some patients have atypical symptoms, which may primarily present as just one symptom, such as cough or chest tightness alone, known as atypical asthma. However, whether it is typical or atypical asthma, the principles of treatment are the same. It is essential to cooperate with the doctor to control the disease, improve symptoms, and enhance the quality of life.

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What will happen if bronchial asthma is not treated?

Bronchial asthma is a very common type of asthma in clinical settings, triggered by numerous and complex factors. Generally, patients with this condition often experience frequent recurrent attacks into asthmatic states. Since there is no specific cure for this type of asthma in clinical settings, symptom relief through medication is used to improve the quality of life of patients. Therefore, it is usual in clinical practice to provide symptomatic treatment promptly once bronchial asthma is diagnosed. If bronchial asthma is left untreated, it may pose significant health risks. During an asthma attack, patients may experience varying degrees of shortness of breath, chest tightness, or even difficulty breathing. If the respiratory distress caused by an asthma attack is not relieved in time, it could lead to complications such as hypoxemia or even respiratory failure in some cases.

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The difference between bronchial asthma and pulmonary emphysema.

Bronchial asthma and emphysema are two different diseases. Bronchial asthma typically manifests as episodic coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing. Patients often develop this condition in childhood and adolescence, and it is relatively rare in the elderly. Emphysema, on the other hand, is often related to long-term smoking and is usually seen in middle-aged and older patients. Early stages of emphysema may only be evident on a chest CT and may not show significant symptoms of chest tightness. However, as the disease progresses, patients often experience noticeable chest tightness and difficulty breathing, and the condition tends to progressively worsen. Patients typically eventually develop complications such as chronic respiratory failure and chronic pulmonary heart disease. Therefore, the characteristics of bronchial asthma and emphysema are different. However, it is important to note that in patients with bronchial asthma, if the condition is not controlled and continues to progress, it might also lead to the development of emphysema, chronic respiratory failure, pulmonary heart disease, and other related conditions.