Bronchial asthma X-ray manifestations

Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
Updated on December 21, 2024
00:00
00:00

Bronchial asthma is primarily caused by inflammation in the airways due to various inflammatory cells, leading to the narrowing and spasm of the bronchi. This impedes the effective expulsion of gases from the lungs through the bronchi, resulting in a disease characterized by symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. In patients with bronchial asthma, because of a large amount of gas remaining in the lungs, X-ray manifestations primarily include sparse lung markings, increased translucency, as well as some signs of widened intercostal spaces and lowered diaphragm. Generally, these signs are not specific and cannot be solely relied upon to diagnose or exclude bronchial asthma. It is also necessary to consider the patient's medical history and lung function tests for a comprehensive assessment.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
37sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
1min 2sec home-news-image

Is oxygen inhalation useful for bronchial asthma?

Administering appropriate oxygen therapy can have certain benefits for patients with bronchial asthma. The onset of bronchial asthma is mainly due to the edema of the bronchial mucosa and the constriction of the smooth muscles outside the bronchi leading to the narrowing of the lumen. This makes it difficult for gases to pass normally through the airway into the alveoli. Patients may experience symptoms such as coughing, chest congestion, breathlessness, or wheezing, which are primarily due to the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma. Of course, providing patients with appropriate oxygen therapy during an asthma attack can be beneficial, temporarily solving the problem of hypoxia. However, it is important to understand that asthma patients are not primarily suffering from a lack of oxygen but from ventilation dysfunction, which leads to the inability to expel carbon dioxide, the waste gas, from the body. Therefore, the fundamental treatment should focus on improving airway spasms and narrowing to enhance ventilation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
46sec home-news-image

Key points in the treatment of bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma, commonly referred to as asthma, is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways involving various granulocytes and cell mediators. This airway inflammation can cause heightened airway reactivity, with patients experiencing episodic wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Symptoms can usually be relieved with or without medication. The key points in the treatment of bronchial asthma include avoiding allergens and ensuring that patients breathe fresh, clean air. Additionally, long-term inhalation of asthma control medications and drugs to reduce airway inflammation is necessary. With these measures, bronchial asthma can be well managed.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zeng Xiang Bo
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
48sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
55sec home-news-image

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.