Subscribe
Bronchial asthma
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.
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.
Can people with bronchial asthma eat beef?
Bronchial asthma is a very common disease in the respiratory system, caused by a multitude of triggering factors. It usually occurs in infants and young children due to their lower immune function, combined with some being of an allergic constitution. Additionally, such patients might also be affected due to exposure to harmful gases in the external environment, which can trigger an asthma attack at any time. Clinically, it is generally advised that patients with bronchial asthma avoid consuming spicy and stimulating foods, though beef can generally be consumed. Beef has high nutritional value, containing a significant amount of amino acids, high-quality proteins, as well as nutrients like calcium and iron, which are essential for the body. Therefore, it is suitable for patients with bronchial asthma to consume some beef appropriately.
Can bronchial asthma cure itself?
Bronchial asthma generally cannot heal on its own. Bronchial asthma is a chronic, recurrent disease, which is usually incurable. Even with standard treatment, a complete cure is often unachievable. However, during an acute attack of bronchial asthma, spontaneous remission is possible. Some mild acute attacks of bronchial asthma may simply require removing the allergen and hazardous factors, which can lead to spontaneous alleviation of the asthma symptoms. For bronchial asthma, long-term standard treatment is usually required, such as the inhalation of corticosteroids and the use of bronchodilators. Additionally, it is important to avoid allergens and prevent respiratory infections.
What causes bronchial asthma?
Bronchial asthma is very common in clinical settings, mainly characterized by a reversible airflow limitation that can cause recurrent attacks of wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath in patients. These attacks generally occur at night or in the early morning and can gradually ease after treatment. Bronchial asthma is mainly related to several factors, the first being environmental factors. Exposure to pollen and animal dander can trigger asthma attacks. Additionally, infections, diet, and medications are among the various factors that can provoke asthma attacks.
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.
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.
Does bronchial asthma have wheezing sounds?
During an acute attack of bronchial asthma, patients often have wheezing sounds in their lungs, but it's important to note that some patients may not exhibit wheezing, such as those with chest tightness or cough variant asthma, who only show symptoms of chest tightness and typically do not have wheezing on auscultation. However, administering inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators can relieve their condition. Additionally, during a severe acute attack of bronchial asthma, severe airway spasms can occur, leading to a situation where the patient might not have any wheezing sounds, a condition referred to as "silent lung." In such cases, patients often experience difficulty breathing or even respiratory distress, which is usually quite serious and requires active intervention.
Is bronchial asthma dangerous?
Whether bronchial asthma is dangerous depends on the severity of the condition during an acute asthma attack. The most common symptoms of asthma are episodic breathing difficulties, chest tightness, or coughing. If the patient experiences only mild breathing difficulties during an acute attack, it may resolve on its own without posing a life-threatening risk. However, if it is a severe asthma attack, such as the patient being unable to speak, experiencing drowsiness, consciousness disorders, even showing paradoxical movement, weakened wheezing sounds, or even an absence of breathing sounds, then there may be a life-threatening risk if immediate and aggressive rescue measures are not taken.
How to treat bronchial asthma?
After the onset of bronchial asthma, it is necessary to carry out active treatment. In clinical practice, the following categories of bronchodilator drugs are mainly used: The first is adrenergic receptor agonists, such as salbutamol and terbutaline; the second is anticholinergic drugs, mainly tiotropium bromide; the third category is xanthine drugs, which can include aminophylline or doxophylline. Additionally, glucocorticoids can be used for pharmacological treatment. If the patient still has recurrent attacks after systemic treatment, hospitalization is recommended for further management.