Can asthma be cured completely?

Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 13, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 22sec home-news-image

What department should I go to for asthma?

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 14sec home-news-image

Can asthma be cured?

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
1min 5sec home-news-image

How is asthma treated?

Asthma generally requires long-term anti-inflammatory treatment, which primarily involves the use of corticosteroid medications to alleviate symptoms. Additionally, medications that dilate the bronchial tubes can be used to relieve symptoms. For allergic asthma, it is advisable for patients to identify and avoid allergens, while also taking anti-allergy medications to alleviate symptoms. Preventative medication to control attacks is also recommended. Attention should be paid to regulating indoor temperatures to prevent colds, ensuring warmth, and avoiding exposure to cold winds. Furthermore, indoor temperatures in winter should not be too high to avoid large temperature differences with the outside, which can lead to colds and decrease the chances of influenza infection. Additionally, if symptoms of coughing and asthma are severe, medications to stop coughing and relieve asthma should be taken to alleviate symptoms.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xia Bao Jun
Pulmonology
52sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
30sec home-news-image

The typical manifestations of asthma

Asthma is quite common in clinical settings. Asthma attacks often occur suddenly when exposed to allergens, during physical activity, emotional excitement, or infections, presenting symptoms such as paroxysmal coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and breathing difficulties. Breathing difficulties often manifest as expiratory difficulties. Symptoms of asthma typically alleviate upon leaving the allergenic environment or after the application of bronchodilators. These are the typical clinical presentations of asthma.