How to check for bronchial asthma?

Written by Zeng Xiang Bo
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Updated on January 09, 2025
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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.

Other Voices

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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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How to use diet to supplement for bronchial asthma

Generally speaking, for bronchial asthma, especially milder cases or those with rare occurrences and short duration, there is no need to deliberately seek dietary supplements. Moreover, since bronchial asthma is a type of allergic disease, caution should be taken with dietary supplements to ensure there are no allergies to certain foods or herbal remedies. For chronic, recurrent asthma, traditional Chinese medicine often attributes it to kidney deficiency or a deficiency in both the lung and kidney qi, where the organs fail to properly grasp the qi. In such cases, dietary supplements that originate from both food and medicine can be helpful. Examples include cordyceps duck soup, walnut kernels, cordyceps, and mulberry seeds. These substances can support kidney function and help manage asthma to some extent. (Note: The use of these substances should be guided by a professional doctor.)

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Written by Zeng Xiang Bo
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
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What are the complications of bronchial asthma?

The complications of bronchial asthma are divided into acute and chronic complications. Acute complications, which occur during a severe asthma attack, mainly include pneumothorax, mediastinal emphysema, severe hypoxia, respiratory failure, leading to severe arrhythmias, electrolyte disturbances, and in severe cases, coma and death. Chronic complications are mainly due to chronic changes in bronchial asthma leading to airway remodeling, chronic airway inflammation, and chronic narrowing. The complications at this stage mainly include chronic respiratory failure and pulmonary heart disease.

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

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 Hu Bai Yu
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Can people with bronchial asthma eat chicken?

Patients with bronchial asthma can appropriately eat some chicken, as chicken contains proteins, trace elements, and other minerals that can meet the body's demand for various nutrients and enhance its resistance. Additionally, chicken is a warming and tonic food, which helps to nourish the body and strengthen the patient's resistance, facilitating faster recovery from the illness. However, it is important to consume it in moderation and not eat too much at once, as overeating can burden the gastrointestinal tract and lead to indigestion. Therefore, it is advised to always eat in moderate amounts, regardless of the food type. Also, keep warm, avoid cold drafts, do not eat spicy, greasy, raw, or irritating foods. Furthermore, proper physical exercise should be maintained to enhance physique and improve resistance.