What department should I go to for asthma?

Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

Updated on September 03, 2024

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The asthma we usually talk about mainly refers to bronchial asthma, which is a respiratory system disease. The most suitable department to consult for bronchial asthma is the department of respiratory medicine, and in places where no specific department of respiratory medicine exists, the department of general internal medicine can be consulted. However, the precondition for consulting these departments is that the patient's condition must be stable. If a patient with bronchial asthma experiences a severe acute attack and has serious breathing difficulties, they must seek treatment in the emergency department. Additionally, some types of asthma refer to cardiac asthma, which, as the name suggests, is a cardiovascular disease and thus requires consultation in the department of cardiology.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

1min 28sec

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Asthma belongs to what department?

When we talk about asthma, we generally refer to bronchial asthma, which is a respiratory system disease. Therefore, the primary department to consult is, of course, the Department of Respiratory Medicine. If an asthma patient's condition is relatively stable, they can see a respiratory specialist through outpatient services. In hospitals without a Department of Respiratory Medicine, such as community health service centers or township health clinics, they can choose to see a general practitioner, also known as an internist. If an asthma patient suffers an acute attack of bronchial asthma and the condition is critical, they must then visit the Department of Emergency Medicine. The emergency department will decide based on the patient’s condition whether they should be kept for observation in the emergency room, be admitted to the general respiratory department, or be sent to the ICU for further emergency treatment. Additionally, there is another type of asthma known as cardiac asthma, which is a cardiovascular disease. The first choice for these patients is to see a cardiologist, although in severe cases, they should visit the Department of Emergency Medicine.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

1min 11sec

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Can asthma be cured completely?

We often refer to asthma as bronchial asthma, which, whether it is cough variant asthma, allergic asthma, or caused by other factors, has not yet a cure found to date. It is now generally believed that bronchial asthma can be controlled, which means that as long as patients with bronchial asthma receive standardized treatment in reputable hospitals, most can be controlled and will not suffer from recurrent attacks. So far, there is no cure found, and all advertisements using Traditional Chinese Medicine or ancient secret remedies or any other means claiming that asthma can be cured are false. These are not to be trusted, and many asthma patients often suffer because they take some medications containing oral corticosteroids under these false beliefs. While these might control asthma in the short term, they are detrimental to the long-term management of asthma, and prolonged use of such non-standard corticosteroid treatments can lead to many adverse reactions, such as drug-induced Cushing's syndrome and medication-induced diabetes, among others.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

49sec

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Is variant asthma allergic asthma?

Cough-variant asthma is not allergic asthma, although it is a type of allergic asthma. Generally speaking, there is a certain distinction between cough-variant asthma and allergic asthma. Clinically, cough-variant asthma is a special type of asthma, where the main symptom exhibited by patients is an irritative dry cough, typically quite severe, without other significant clinical discomforts. In contrast, patients with allergic asthma usually exhibit symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, and itchy nose before the onset, triggered by exposure to certain allergens. Cough-variant asthma does not have these preliminary signs, marking a clear difference from allergic asthma.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu

Pulmonology

1min 15sec

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How is asthma treated?

For the treatment of asthma, it is first necessary to determine the cause of the asthma. If it is due to some respiratory diseases, then in this case, it is necessary to take some anti-inflammatory and anti-infective drugs for treatment. Conditions like bronchitis, pneumonia, or lung abscess can all cause symptoms of asthma. It is recommended that everyone actively treats the symptoms; controlling the infection is key. Next is symptom management; if there is coughing or phlegm, it is necessary to take some cough suppressant and expectorant medications or combine with asthma-relieving medications to treat and alleviate symptoms. If it is caused by allergies, some anti-allergy medications should be taken, then combined with some cough and asthma-relieving medications for treatment. Drink more water to promote excretion, avoid spicy, greasy, cold, and stimulating foods, and also be sure to maintain a relaxed mood without too much stress. Follow the doctor's guidance actively, cooperate with the doctor in treatment, and refrain from smoking and drinking.

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Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

32sec

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Symptoms of asthma

Asthma is a common respiratory disease. What are the symptoms after the onset of asthma? Typically, asthma patients exhibit characteristic symptoms, including episodic chest tightness, wheezing, and difficulty breathing, often accompanied by a wheezing sound. The breathing difficulty usually manifests as difficulty exhaling. However, some asthma patients show atypical symptoms, possibly presenting only with coughing or chest tightness, known as cough-variant asthma.