Treatment of Symptoms of Bronchial Asthma

Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
Updated on May 15, 2025
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Patients with bronchial asthma often exhibit symptoms such as episodic coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing. These symptoms typically occur when the patient inhales allergens, cold air, or experiences respiratory infections. Additionally, during an asthma attack, symptoms such as chest tightness tend to worsen at night and when lying flat, whereas they tend to alleviate during the day and when the patient is sitting or standing up. There are also some special types of bronchial asthma. For instance, some asthmatic patients may only exhibit coughing without obvious symptoms of chest tightness, wheezing, or breathing difficulties, which is known as cough-variant asthma. Some patients may only experience chest tightness without obvious wheezing or coughing. Lung auscultation may not reveal any wheezing sound, but treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators is effective; this condition is known as chest tightness-variant asthma. (Medication use should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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Can people with bronchial asthma eat oranges?

People with bronchial asthma can eat oranges, as oranges contain a rich amount of vitamins which can help with some inflammations and have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. This can alleviate some symptoms of bronchial asthma and play a role in adjunctive therapy. However, patients with bronchial asthma need to follow the guidance of a doctor, take the corresponding anti-inflammatory and anti-infection medications, and use medications to stabilize asthma. They should also rest adequately and avoid excessive fatigue. Furthermore, they can engage in moderate, soothing aerobic exercises and avoid excessive physical activity to prevent worsening their condition. It is also recommended to avoid staying up late to ensure sufficient sleep and improve resistance, helping the disease to recover more quickly.

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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 Zeng Xiang Bo
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
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What position should be adopted for bronchial asthma?

The postures of patients with bronchial asthma vary depending on the severity and extent of the attack. For patients with mild symptoms, they can assume any posture they prefer without any impact; they can sleep however they wish. However, during severe asthma attacks, patients are forced to adopt a semi-sitting or upright sitting position to breathe. This isn't a choice, but a necessity when the disease reaches a severe stage, where such positions might slightly ease breathing. Many asthmatic patients cannot lie down at all during serious attacks, as lying down would intensify their chest tightness and breathing difficulties.

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Written by Zeng Xiang Bo
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
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Is bronchial asthma serious?

The symptoms of bronchial asthma vary from person to person, as does its severity. Some patients may have very mild symptoms, only showing slight chest tightness and mild coughing. Other patients may experience very severe symptoms such as respiratory failure, loss of consciousness, cardiac arrest, and sudden death. The clinical presentations are completely different. Therefore, bronchial asthma can be considered a suppressive disease, meaning everyone's symptoms are different, and one cannot generalize; most patients are relatively mild.

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Written by Zeng Xiang Bo
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
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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.)