Asthma (bronchial asthma) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchial mucosa characterized by airway obstruction due to mucosal edema, increased mucus secretion, and bronchospasm. The disease occurs when triggers cause coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing.

Doctor Than Thi Ngoc Lan, from the Respiratory Department of Tam Anh General Hospital in Hanoi, offers dietary advice for asthma management.

Allergenic foods: Asthma is linked to allergies. Therefore, people with asthma should avoid foods to which they are allergic. When buying food, ask about the ingredients or read the label to avoid allergens.

High-calorie foods: Asthma symptoms are often more severe in obese individuals. People with asthma should avoid high-calorie foods like fried and processed foods. Balancing calorie intake and expenditure is crucial for maintaining a healthy weight and preventing obesity, which can exacerbate asthma symptoms.

Large meals: Eating too much in one sitting can cause bloating, which puts pressure on the diaphragm (the main muscle involved in breathing) and can lead to shortness of breath. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help prevent choking, tightness, and difficulty breathing.

Frozen and canned foods: Frozen foods often contain sulfites and the preservative sodium bisulfite, which are not good for asthma patients. Limiting packaged and canned foods can help prevent asthma attacks.

Spicy and pungent foods: Foods that are too salty, sour, or spicy can irritate the airway lining and trigger acute asthma attacks. People with asthma should eat a bland diet, reduce salt and pickled foods to protect their respiratory health.

Alcoholic beverages: People with asthma should limit or avoid alcoholic beverages. Alcohol and the additives in alcoholic beverages can irritate the airways, causing shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. For those taking medication, alcohol can reduce its effectiveness or increase side effects. Alcohol also makes the body more susceptible to respiratory infections.

Smoking: Patients should also quit smoking. Cigarette smoke contains many toxins such as nicotine, carbon monoxide (CO), and carcinogens that can irritate the bronchi, causing them to constrict and increase mucus secretion, leading to acute asthma attacks.

Khue Lam