Patient's question:
My daughter only gets bronchial asthma when she eats hot foods (referring to fried foods) or has a fever. It has happened four times already this year. I would like to understand what good methods there are to prevent it from recurring, and how to eliminate the root cause...Doctor's answer:
Medications for asthma are often referred to as bronchodilators because they all possess the effect of bronchodilation.1. β2 agonists: β2 agonists primarily work by activating β2 receptors in the airway smooth muscle, catalyzing adenylyl cyclase, increasing intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels and free Ca2+ levels, thereby relaxing the airway smooth muscle. They are essential medications for suppressing acute asthma symptoms.
2. Theophylline: Theophylline not only inhibit phosphodiesterase to reduce intracellular cAMP levels but also possess antagonistic effects on adenosine receptors; they can enhance the excretion of epinephrine in the body, improve the ciliary clearance function of the airway, and have anti-inflammatory effects. They are currently one of the commonly used medications for treating asthma. The varieties of drugs used in clinical diagnosis include aminophylline, theophylline, propyphenolamine, dipropyphenolamine, enprofylline, etc. They can be taken orally or administered intravenously.
3. Anticholinergic drugs: Inhaled anticholinergic drugs, such as ipratropine bromide, can block postganglionic vagal pathways, reduce vagal excitability to produce bronchodilation, and also block reflexive airway constriction.
Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids (full name: hormones) are currently the most effective medications for comprehensive prevention and treatment of asthma.
Sodium cromoglicate: Sodium cromoglicate is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
Lifestyle management: When dealing with acute asthma attacks, it is important to identify the triggering factors. Most are related to exposure to allergens, fever, respiratory infections, changes in weather, improper medication use (e.g., analgesics, β-blockers), strenuous exercise, or inadequate treatment. Identifying and controlling these triggers can help manage the condition and prevent recurrence.