What to do about chest tightness in bronchial asthma?

Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
Updated on February 07, 2025
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Bronchial asthma is a disease characterized by breathlessness, chest tightness, rapid breathing, and coughing, caused by the infiltration of various inflammatory cells in the airways, resulting in the narrowing of the bronchial lumen and the production of a large amount of mucus. When patients with bronchial asthma experience chest tightness, we can treat them with some nebulized inhalation medications. These medications are usually short-acting bronchodilators that can take effect within 3-5 minutes, quickly alleviating the symptoms of chest tightness. Additionally, patients should avoid exposure to allergens that may trigger asthma attacks, such as animal fur, viruses, and dust, to prevent recurrence of the symptoms.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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What department to see for bronchial asthma?

Bronchial asthma is a relatively common disease in clinical practice, and its causes are not very clear at present. It is generally believed to be related to genetic and environmental factors. Bronchial asthma often manifests as episodic wheezing, chest tightness, cough, and other symptoms. After developing bronchial asthma, one should visit the respiratory medicine department at a hospital. After the consultation, doctors will use asthma medication to control the symptoms and develop a suitable treatment plan to effectively control the symptoms and improve the quality of life.

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Written by Yuan Qing
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Symptoms of bronchial asthma cough

Bronchial asthma can also manifest as a disease primarily characterized by coughing, which we call cough-variant asthma. It does not necessarily exhibit typical symptoms of bronchial asthma such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness; it manifests solely as coughing. This type of cough generally occurs more frequently in the early morning and at night, characterized primarily by a dry cough without mucus. If the coughing is severe, some chest tightness may occur, accompanied by symptoms such as an itchy nose, itchy throat, or the presence of hives, an allergic condition, which is different from ordinary coughs. Therefore, when these characteristics are present, attention should be paid to whether it is combined with bronchial asthma, rather than just a simple cold or bronchitis manifestation.

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Causes of Bronchial Asthma

The most common cause of bronchial asthma is inhalants, which are mainly found in daily life, such as dust mites, pollen, fungi, and some irritating and toxic gases, all of which may irritate the airways and cause asthma. Infections are closely related to the occurrence of asthma, and respiratory infections such as viruses, bacteria, and mycoplasma can all trigger asthma. Additionally, certain specific foods, such as fish, shrimp, crab, milk, and eggs, may cause asthma in certain groups of people. Factors such as the patient's mental state, changes in the climate, and intense exercise are also possible causes of bronchial asthma. These are the most common causes of bronchial asthma onset.

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Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Bronchial Asthma Massage Method

In clinical situations of acute exacerbations of bronchial asthma, or even normally, we can alleviate clinical symptoms through certain massage techniques. These methods mainly involve massaging specific acupoints to relieve asthma attacks and reduce their frequency. We can massage points along the lung meridian, such as Chize, Taiyuan, and Kongzui. Additionally, we can massage an extra-meridian acupoint called Dingchuan, as well as Lung Shu, Zhongfu, Tiantu, and Danzhong. Beyond these basic points, we also need to select acupoints based on the patient's condition. For example, if the patient's bronchial asthma is caused by exposure to cold wind, we can massage Fengmen. If the patient has excessive heat phlegm causing asthma, we can add Quze and Taibai to clear heat and transform phlegm.

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Which department should I go to for bronchial asthma?

In our common areas, we would visit the Department of Respiratory Medicine for conditions such as bronchial asthma, which is a respiratory system disease. The Department of Respiratory Medicine is the most specialized department for treating bronchial asthma. However, in some areas, such as those below the county level like town health centers or community clinics, a respiratory medicine department might not be available. In such cases, we can only visit the general internal medicine department, also known as the major internal medicine department. Generally, bronchial asthma is treated in the outpatient clinics of these departments. However, if an acute attack of bronchial asthma occurs, causing breathing difficulties and a sudden exacerbation of the condition, it then becomes necessary to visit the emergency medicine department. Emergency doctors will handle the situation and then decide whether the patient should continue treatment under observation in the emergency department or need hospitalization, etc.