Coughing in the spring? Experts: Beware of "asthma without wheezing"

As spring approaches, the number of patients in the respiratory department of hospitals begins to increase. Experts remind people to be alert to a kind of "asthma without wheezing".

Spring cough variant asthma

Symptoms similar to those of a cold

Ma Yanliang, chief physician of the respiratory department of Peking University People's Hospital, said that every March there is a small peak in outpatient visits, and a large part of them are cough variant asthma caused by spring allergies. "Many patients are not wheezing at all, but they have recurring coughs."

Ma Yanliang introduced that cough variant asthma is a special type of asthma, which is usually characterized by dry cough, severe cough, and night cough, so it is also called "asthma without wheezing". Cold air, irritating gases, pollen, pet fur, etc. can easily induce and aggravate cough.

The symptoms of cough variant asthma are similar to those of a cold and are easily ignored by patients. The difference between a cough caused by a cold and cough variant asthma is:

1. The cough symptoms of a cold usually only last for a few days, and can be effectively relieved by taking cough syrup and other medicines;

2. Cough variant asthma lasts for more than two weeks and is not relieved by common cold medicines;

It is worth noting that chest X-rays or lung CT scans of patients with cough variant asthma often show no specific changes, and a "pulmonary function stimulation test" is needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Delayed treatment may cause irreversible damage

Need to adhere to medication

Ma Yanliang introduced that although cough variant asthma only manifests as coughing, its pathogenesis is the same as that of typical asthma. If diagnosis and treatment are delayed, it is likely to develop into typical asthma and cause irreversible damage to the respiratory system.

1. This kind of cough is harmful to the body;

Second, this symptom indicates chronic inflammation in the body. If it is not controlled, it will affect lung function in the long term.

3. If not treated, typical asthma will occur in the future.

"Generally speaking, the patient's condition will be stable for about three months, and the dosage can be gradually reduced according to the situation. It may take about a year to truly achieve the goal of controlling the disease."

Daily life needs attention

Seek medical attention promptly if you have symptoms

Experts remind that people with allergic constitutions need to pay attention to several points in their daily lives to avoid triggering cough variant asthma.

1. Avoid contact with allergens and irritants, avoid taking sensitive foods and drugs, wash bedding regularly, do not use carpets, and do not keep pets such as cats and dogs;

2. Pay attention to temperature changes and keep warm in spring, and ventilate regularly;

3. Take appropriate exercise;

4. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, eat protein-rich foods appropriately, but avoid foods that are prone to allergies;

5. Pay attention to a regular schedule, go to bed early and get up early, and avoid staying up late.

Doctors remind patients with the following symptoms to seek medical attention promptly:

1. Patients with recurrent irritating dry cough, mainly at night;

2. Patients with cough lasting more than 8 weeks;

3. Patients who are exposed to cold or hot environmental stimulation, smoke and dust environment, keep pets at home, have recently renovated their homes, or cough repeatedly in the same season;

4. Patients whose symptoms are not relieved by conventional antibiotics and cough suppressants.