The cause of airflow limitation in bronchial asthma.

Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
Updated on April 18, 2025
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Bronchial asthma airflow limitation is a respiratory physiological feature of our bronchial asthma, and its limitation is mainly related to the pathophysiological mechanism of asthma. Asthma is a chronic airway inflammation involving multiple cells caused by various reasons. When inflammation occurs, the mucosa will become edematous, and the smooth muscle outside the airway will also spasm and contract. Therefore, the airflow cannot smoothly enter and exit the bronchi, leading to the manifestation of airflow limitation in the bronchi. Thus, in the treatment of asthma, we need to use some bronchodilator drugs, as well as some anti-inflammatory drugs, so as to comprehensively control the patient's symptoms.

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Can bronchial asthma be cured?

Bronchial asthma, to this day, cannot be completely cured. Many places claim under the guise of traditional Chinese medicine or ancient secret recipes that bronchial asthma can be fully cured, but these are false advertisements. So far, bronchial asthma is a manageable disease. Being manageable means that it can be treated; standardized treatment can make its recurrence quite rare, but it still cannot be completely cured. This means that once someone has bronchial asthma, they must understand that it is a lifelong disease, potentially recurring throughout life, and they need to manage it long-term.

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Bronchial Asthma Massage Method

In clinical situations of acute exacerbations of bronchial asthma, or even normally, we can alleviate clinical symptoms through certain massage techniques. These methods mainly involve massaging specific acupoints to relieve asthma attacks and reduce their frequency. We can massage points along the lung meridian, such as Chize, Taiyuan, and Kongzui. Additionally, we can massage an extra-meridian acupoint called Dingchuan, as well as Lung Shu, Zhongfu, Tiantu, and Danzhong. Beyond these basic points, we also need to select acupoints based on the patient's condition. For example, if the patient's bronchial asthma is caused by exposure to cold wind, we can massage Fengmen. If the patient has excessive heat phlegm causing asthma, we can add Quze and Taibai to clear heat and transform phlegm.

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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.

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What foods should not be eaten with bronchial asthma?

Bronchial asthma is a type of chronic, variable inflammation, which is also an allergic inflammation. In clinical cases of bronchial asthma, the majority are allergic asthma. If there is an allergy, allergens exist, therefore, it is crucial for asthma patients to strictly avoid contact with allergens. If it is food allergy, contact with the allergenic food must be strictly prohibited. Additionally, many patients do not know what they are allergic to, so they need to be cautious of common foods that can cause allergies, such as seafood, small fish, and small shrimp. For instance, if people around them or family members experience discomfort or develop a rash after consuming certain medications or foods, or if they experience chest tightness or abdominal pain after eating, such foods should be avoided as much as possible.

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The causes of bronchial asthma

The causes of bronchial asthma are actually not very clear at present, but current research shows that bronchial asthma is mainly caused by genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors are relatively easier to understand, meaning if parents have a history of bronchial asthma, then their children, grandchildren, and other blood relatives may have a higher chance of developing bronchial asthma than the general population. Additionally, bronchial asthma is also related to environmental factors, such as air pollution, smoking, dust mites, pollen, etc.