What department should I go to for asthma?

Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 26, 2024
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What department should you visit for asthma? First, we need to clarify the definition of asthma. The term "asthma" most commonly refers to bronchial asthma, but also to cardiac asthma. Starting with bronchial asthma, it is a respiratory system disease, and the most appropriate department to visit is the Department of Respiratory Medicine. Of course, in the case of an acute attack of bronchial asthma, if the condition of the patient is very severe, then they may choose to visit the emergency department. Additionally, in some areas where there is no Department of Respiratory Medicine available, such as in rural areas or community health centers, patients can only visit a general internal medicine department. As for cardiac asthma, it is a concept that is gradually being phased out. Cardiac asthma, as the name suggests, is associated with cardiovascular system diseases. Under these circumstances, the most fitting department to visit is the Department of Cardiology. Of course, if the patient's condition is critical, then the most suitable choice is still the emergency department, where emergency physicians will decide how to handle the patient's condition based on their specific medical needs.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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Do people with asthma cough?

The asthma commonly referred to is bronchial asthma, which is primarily characterized by recurrent episodes of breathing difficulty. This difficulty in breathing is mainly manifested as chest tightness and shortness of breath. Additionally, asthma is often triggered by upper respiratory tract infections. Therefore, most asthma patients experience coughing and expectoration during acute attacks. There is also a special type of asthma known as cough variant asthma, which, as the name suggests, is primarily characterized by coughing. This type of cough is generally dry with little to no sputum, or it involves a small amount of mucous sputum. The coughing can occur during the day but is generally more pronounced at night.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Is variant asthma the same as asthma?

Cough variant asthma is a very common type of asthma. Typically, patients with this condition predominantly experience chronic coughing, generally lasting over two months. These patients may not exhibit other clinical symptoms such as wheezing or breathlessness. It is a specific type of asthma characterized by recurrent chronic coughing. Once diagnosed, these patients should promptly receive treatment to relieve bronchospasm and anti-allergic medications among other symptomatic treatments. The course of treatment generally requires about 4 to 8 weeks, after which some patients may gradually discontinue the medication. Some patients might need intermittent long-term treatment. Therefore, this particular type of asthma requires significant attention. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Xia Bao Jun
Pulmonology
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Can asthma be cured?

Patients with bronchial asthma, if treated properly, can be cured. Although the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma is not very clear at present, it is currently believed that bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways involving multiple cells. This chronic inflammation leads to increased airway reactivity, manifesting as reversible airflow limitation. It is different from chronic bronchitis, which involves irreversible airflow limitation. Therefore, through proper treatment, the condition can be improved, controlled, and cured. Patients should regularly and properly use their medications, including inhaled corticosteroids such as budesonide, taken twice daily. It should be used for more than three months before any reduction in dosage can be considered. The medication can be stopped only if no asthma occurs for a year.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Is cough variant asthma considered asthma?

Cough variant asthma is asthma, and it can be definitively said that cough variant asthma is a type of asthma. Typical asthma generally involves episodic symptoms such as chest tightness, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. However, cough variant asthma is primarily characterized by coughing symptoms, often occurring at night. Therefore, cough variant asthma is also asthma, and the treatment is the same as typical asthma, where bronchodilator medications can be used for treatment.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Can people with asthma eat watermelon?

Asthma is a very common disease in respiratory medicine and often leads to the onset of asthmatic bronchitis due to many complex factors. Therefore, whether asthma patients can eat watermelon when they have an attack depends on the season they are in. If it is in the cold winter when an asthma attack occurs, it is generally not recommended to eat watermelon. Because watermelon itself is a cold-natured fruit, and the winter season is already quite cold, it is not suitable to eat watermelon during this season. However, if the asthmatic condition occurs in the summer, when the climate is relatively hot, it is appropriate to eat some watermelon. Because watermelon can not only replenish fluids and relieve heat, but it can also supplement some nutrients needed by the body. Therefore, whether asthma patients can eat watermelon mainly depends on the season they are in.