Can asthma be cured?

Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 10, 2024
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So far, there is no known cure for bronchial asthma, and it is estimated that curing asthma within the next ten or twenty years will be very challenging. Therefore, any methods or medications claimed to treat or cure bronchial asthma found on any search engine cannot be trusted. We often encounter many people who, influenced by various advertisements, such as flyers, television, and even some newspapers, take medications containing powders that may control asthma temporarily. However, this can increase the risk of future control issues and cause many adverse reactions. Through these reactions, we can infer that these may contain oral steroids. Although oral steroids can indeed be used to control asthma, their use is subject to strict indications, and they are generally not the first choice for asthma control. Therefore, if you have asthma, you must seek standard treatment in a qualified hospital instead of self-medicating through any means, as this is inadvisable.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Causes of asthma

Asthma is a common respiratory disease, with typical symptoms including episodic coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and difficulty breathing, among others. The exact causes of asthma are not entirely clear at present, but it is generally believed to be related to genetic factors and environmental factors. Genetically, the closer the familial relation to an asthma patient, the greater the likelihood of developing the disease. Environmentally, elements such as allergens, pollen, dust mites, infections from certain bacteria or viruses, certain seafood, and medications, among others, can all trigger asthma attacks.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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What are the medications for asthma?

Asthma, also known as bronchial asthma, is a chronic inflammatory lung disease involving various types of granulocytes. The main symptoms exhibited by patients are wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. These symptoms typically occur in the early morning or at night. Currently, the medications used to treat asthma primarily include local inhalants and oral medications. The inhalants generally consist of a combination formulation of long-acting bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Additionally, oral medications may include leukotriene receptor antagonists and histamine receptor antagonists. (The use of these medications should be under the guidance of a 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 Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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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 Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Asthma: What to Avoid

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways involving various types of cells and cellular components, primarily eosinophils. This eosinophil-dominated inflammation is generally related to allergies. Substances that can trigger airway allergies include common allergens such as pet dander, pollen, dust mites, and mold. Therefore, it is generally recommended that individuals with asthma should avoid contact with these substances. Additionally, during the flu season, it is important to prevent colds by wearing masks to avoid viral infections.