The World Health Organization informs that there are 150-200 million asthma patients worldwide, what exactly makes asthma spread around us? When it comes to the reasons for the rising incidence of asthma, some experts say, “The misfortune is the blessing.” This phenomenon is the downside of a highly developed society. “Asthma is the product of a combination of the patient’s susceptibility genes and external factors. For example, renovation is one of the big triggers. With the improvement of people’s living standards, people are exposed to a variety of chemical materials, while in the past people topped off with white powder to paint the walls, pollution is much less than now.” In addition, pets, food additives and some drugs can also cause asthma. It is clear that asthma is a by-product of economic and social development. In the medical community, there is a “hygiene hypothesis” that says if you get infected with bacteria more often as a child, over time, your body’s immunity will become robust. “Nowadays, people are living in cleaner and cleaner environments, with less exposure to bacteria, and their immune system is not as strong as it used to be, so their chances of getting asthma are naturally higher.” Asthma and rhinitis often occur in the same patient Asthma and rhinitis often occur in the same patient. 30% to 40% of allergic rhinitis is accompanied by asthma, and more than 70% of asthma patients have rhinitis (or sinusitis) at the same time. When the nasal mucosa comes into contact with allergens, symptoms such as runny nose, nasal congestion, nasal itching and sneezing are called allergic rhinitis, while asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract, mainly manifested as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and difficulty in breathing. Zhou Qingwei said, the two belong to the same respiratory allergic diseases, medically known as “the same airway, the same disease”. Don’t be afraid to use hormones to treat asthma Many patients are reluctant to follow the doctor’s instructions on medication, especially in the use of hormonal drugs there are two extremes. One is to refuse to use hormones, especially for female and pediatric patients, who often believe that hormone therapy will make them fat or affect their growth and development. The second is overuse of hormones, which has produced a series of side effects. In fact, hormone use properly can completely control asthma well. The correct asthma treatment should be the first choice of inhaled glucocorticoids, with the addition of inhaled long-acting beta agonists according to the degree of the disease, and short-acting beta agonists only when there are acute symptoms. Inhaled hormones mainly work locally in the airways, with only a small amount absorbed into the bloodstream, and the applied dose is very small, generally less than 1 mg per day, so even if inhaled glucocorticosteroids are standardized for lifelong asthma treatment, no significant side effects will occur. Diet too sweet and too salty, easy to induce asthma The lack of attention to diet is also an important reason for inducing asthma. Sweet foods can easily cause phlegm heat and stimulate one’s airways, thus triggering asthma, which has long been clinically proven, but recent studies have found that salty foods containing more salt can also trigger asthma, which is often overlooked. In addition, overly salty meats tend to be fatty, which can easily produce phlegm and block the airways, which is also a cause of asthma. Overly hot food or hotter drinks can also irritate the airways and cause bouts of coughing, which can trigger asthma. Therefore, it is best for asthma patients to eat warm food in general. Sodas such as Coke, Sprite and beer contain a lot of carbon dioxide gas, which can cause similar irritation to the lungs, and are best avoided as well. How to tell if you have asthma You should be alert to the possibility of asthma when any one or several of the following symptoms are present 1. wheezing, especially a high-pitched whistling sound that occurs in children 2. Any of the following: chronic cough; recurrent wheezing; recurrent breathlessness; recurrent chest tightness 3.The above symptoms come on at night or in seasonal episodes. 4. Symptoms are aggravated by exposure to certain substances such as pollen, dust, chemical aerosols or exercise. 5. The “cold” often “progresses to the lungs” or lasts more than 10 days before recovery.