Spring Brings Higher Risk! Asthma Keeps Coming Back—Medication Alone Isn’t Enough
Did you know?
Asthma is the second most common respiratory disease in China.
According to the China Pulmonary Health Study published in The Lancet,about 4.2%of adults aged 20 and older have asthma,affecting roughly 47.5 million people nationwide.Including children and adolescents under 20,the total number of asthma patients is estimated at 60 million.
01
What is Asthma
Asthma,formally known as bronchial asthma,is a common chronic respiratory disease that can be serious and even life-threatening.Its exact causes remain unclear,and there is currently no medication that can fully cure it.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways,involving multiple types of cells and tissues.This ongoing inflammation leads to airway hyperresponsiveness,resulting in symptoms such as recurrent wheezing,shortness of breath,chest tightness,and coughing.These symptoms often appear or worsen at night and in the early morning.
Asthma occurs when patients are exposed to airway irritants,also called asthma triggers.The muscles around the airway walls tighten,narrowing the airways.The surrounding tissues become inflamed and swollen,and thick phlegm or mucus may accumulate,further restricting airflow.During periods between attacks,symptoms may be mild and airflow may not be noticeably obstructed,but chronic inflammation persists over time.
02
What are the Symptoms of Asthma
Typical symptoms of asthmainclude coughing,wheezing,chest tightness,difficulty breathing,and shortness of breath.In severe attacks,breathing difficulty and low blood oxygen(hypoxemia)can develop rapidly.
(Asthma Symptoms)
Some patients do not show obvious symptoms such as wheezing or shortness of breath,which makes diagnosis challenging.The absence of wheezing does not rule out asthma.
The annual cost of asthma management varies depending on disease control,typically ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 RMB.Costs rise with frequent attacks,as higher medication doses or additional therapies may be required.
03
How to Treat Asthma
Asthma cannot be cured,but it can be clinically managed through standardized treatment and careful monitoring.
(I)Conventional Therapies
Asthma is traditionally managed with medications,which fall into two categories:controller medications and reliever(rescue)medications.
Controller medications are taken daily over the long term to maintain asthma control,mainly by reducing airway inflammation.Reliever medications provide rapid relief from bronchospasms and help alleviate acute asthma symptoms.
(II)Emerging Research:Hydrogen-Oxygen Therapy
Given the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of hydrogen-oxygen,some scholars have shown through research that inhaling a high-concentration hydrogen-oxygen mixture can effectively reduce pulmonary oxidative stress,improve lung tissue pathology,and lower airway resistance,making it a promising method for asthma management.
04
Research Related to Hydrogen-Oxygen Medicine
While the exact causes of asthma remain incompletely understood,oxidative stress is known to play a key role in its development and progression.
The anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,and oxygen-carrying properties of hydrogen-oxygen gas make it a promising area for research and clinical application.Multiple research teams have already conducted studies and published findings supporting its potential benefits.Details are as follows:
Paper 1:
(Screenshot of the paper)
Author:Zhang Jingxi,Deputy Director of the Department of Respiratory Medicine,Shanghai Changhai Hospital(The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University);Associate Chief Physician,Associate Professor,M.D.,Master’s Supervisor.Specializes in chronic airway diseases including asthma,COPD,chronic cough,and standardized lung tumor treatment.
Title:Therapeutic Effect of Inhalation of High-Concentration Hydrogen on Bronchial Asthma in Rats
Conclusion:Inhalation of high-concentration hydrogen demonstrated therapeutic effects on ovalbumin-induced asthma in rats.
Original Paper:
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Paper 2:
(Screenshot of the paper)
Paper Author:Zhang Qingling,Deputy Director of the Department of Respiratory Medicine and Director of the Chronic Airway Disease Ward,First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University;Professor and Chief Physician.Focuses on severe asthma and eosinophil-related lung diseases.
Paper Title:Hydrogen Inhalation Enhances Phagocytosis of Alveolar Macrophages in Ovalbumin-Induced Asthmatic Mice
Paper Conclusion:Hydrogen inhalation enhanced the phagocytic function of alveolar macrophages in mice with ovalbumin-induced asthma.
Original Paper:
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Paper 3:
(Screenshot of the paper)
Author:Zhang Jingxi,Deputy Director of the Department of Respiratory Medicine,Shanghai Changhai Hospital(The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University);Associate Chief Physician,Associate Professor,M.D.,Master’s Supervisor.Specializes in chronic airway diseases including asthma,COPD,chronic cough,and standardized lung tumor treatment.
Paper Title:Hydrogen Inhalation Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Allergic Asthmatic Mice
Paper Conclusion:Hydrogen inhalation improved lung function and protected against airway inflammation in a mouse model of allergic asthma.The effects are likely linked to reduced oxidative stress,highlighting a potential alternative approach for asthma management.
Original Paper:
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