What Is a Bronchospasm?

Bronchospasm is a functional state of the bronchi caused by various diseases, not a separate disease. Bronchial spasms are usually upper respiratory tract infections or repeated infections that cause tracheal (bronchial) mucosal lesions, which are sensitive to external stimuli and cough and asthma. In addition, certain allergens and nerve stimulating factors may cause bronchospasm. Find the primary cause of bronchospasm, treat the cause, symptomatically relieve bronchospasm, and relieve cough and asthma symptoms.

Basic Information

English name

Bronchial Spasm

Visiting department

Respiratory Medicine

Common locations

bronchus

Common causes

Upper respiratory tract infections cause tracheal mucosal lesions, which make the bronchus sensitive to external stimuli and cough and asthma; smoking, certain allergens, and nerve stimulation can also cause

Common symptoms

Asthma

Causes of bronchospasm and common diseases

Upper respiratory tract infections or recurrent infections cause tracheal (bronchial) mucosal lesions, which are sensitive to external stimuli and cough and asthma. In addition, smoking, certain allergens, and nerve stimulating factors may cause bronchospasm. Common disease:

1. Chronic bronchitis in the elderly

Wheezing, hypercapnia, dyspnea, rough breath sounds, low breath sounds, snoring sounds, etc.

2. Ammonia poisoning

Nausea and vomiting, cyanosis, fatigue, edema of the throat, and difficulty breathing.

3. hay fever

Nasal congestion, nasal congestion and reflex headache, runny nose, itchy skin, bronchospasm, etc.

4. Nitrogen dioxide poisoning

Nausea, miliary shadows on both lungs, bloodshot sputum, wheezing, bronchospasm, etc.

5. Small intestine carcinoid

Valve thickening, cyanosis, fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dyspnea, etc.

6. Acute onset of bronchial asthma

Cough, chest tightness, asthma, and difficulty breathing.

Bronchospasm examination

Pulmonary function test

Patients with asthma control levels have most of their lung ventilation in the normal range. At the onset of asthma, due to the limited expiratory flow rate, manifested as forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), one second rate (FEV1 / FVC%), maximum mid expiratory flow rate (MMER), exhaled 50% and 75% The maximum expiratory flow (MEF50% and MEF75%) and peak expiratory flow (PEFR) at spirometry were reduced. It can be used to reduce vital capacity, increase residual capacity, increase functional residual capacity and total lung capacity, increase the percentage of residual gas in total lung capacity, and restrict ventilation dysfunction. It can gradually recover after treatment.

Pulmonary function test is very helpful for the diagnosis of asthma, it is an important indicator to evaluate the severity of the disease, and it is also an important indicator to evaluate the efficacy. Patients with asthma should regularly review lung function tests. Daily monitoring of PEF can help assess the degree of asthma control.

2. Sputum eosinophil or neutrophil count

Airway inflammation associated with asthma can be assessed.

3.Measurement of exhaled NO (FeNO) concentration

It can also be used as a non-invasive marker of airway inflammation in asthma. Sputum eosinophils and FeNo tests can help to choose the best treatment for asthma.

4. Allergen (i.e. allergen) inspection

Allergen skin tests or serum-specific IgE assays can be used to confirm the allergic status of asthma patients, to help understand the risk factors that cause individual asthma to develop and worsen, and to help determine specific immunotherapy options.

5. Chest X-ray examination

Asthma in remission was mostly without abnormalities. When the asthma attacked, the brightness of both lungs increased, showing an inflated state. Such as concurrent respiratory infections, increased lung texture and inflammatory infiltrates can be seen. At the same time, attention should be paid to complications such as atelectasis, pneumothorax, or mediastinal emphysema.

Differential diagnosis of bronchospasm

Influenza

Onset of illness is acute, with a history of epidemics. In addition to respiratory symptoms, systemic symptoms such as fever and headache are obvious. Virus isolation and positive complement binding tests can be identified.

2. Upper respiratory tract infection

Nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and other symptoms were obvious, no cough, sputum, and no abnormal signs in the lungs.

3. Bronchial asthma

If patients with acute bronchitis are accompanied by bronchospasm, roaring wheezing may occur, and it should be distinguished from bronchial asthma, which has symptoms such as paroxysmal dyspnea, laborious exhalation, wheezing and full-lung wheezing and sitting breathing Physical signs.

Bronchial spasm treatment principles

Find the primary cause of bronchospasm, treat the cause, symptomatically relieve bronchospasm, and give muscle relaxants to reduce the increase in respiratory impedance caused by cough. It is safer to use drugs such as 2 agonists. Inhaled administration has the same effect as parenteral administration, with fewer side effects, and hormones can alleviate bronchospasm.