Among us, there exists a type of asthma often mistaken for ordinary cough or chronic bronchitis - this is cough variant asthma.

Cough variant asthma may sound complicated, but in essence it's just a special manifestation of asthma.

Unlike typical asthma with obvious wheezing and difficulty breathing, cough-variant asthma mainly presents as an irritating dry cough—like having a small tickle in the throat that makes you unable to resist coughing.

This type of cough often recurs, becoming especially noticeable when exposed to triggers like cold air or pungent odors, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose.

Let’s better understand cough-variant asthma through a real case study.

This was one of my patients, a man in his sixties who had been coughing for over six years without lasting relief. In addition to coughing, he experienced sneezing and a runny nose—particularly when exposed to cold air or strong odors—which would trigger bouts of intensified coughing. Occasionally, he would cough up thin white phlegm accompanied by wheezing. For a long time, he assumed he had chronic bronchitis, but treatment provided little improvement.

Later, I suggested Grandpa Zhao undergo a simple test—the bronchial provocation test. The result came back positive, which meant he had typical cough-variant asthma rather than chronic bronchitis.

In addition to symptoms like coughing, the patient also experienced cold hands and feet, sensitivity to cold, and frequent fatigue. The tongue appeared pale with a thin coating.

Considering these factors comprehensively, his condition was identified as deficiency of vital qi with cold phlegm obstructing the lungs.

Now that we've identified the cause, how should we proceed with treatment?

The key is to focus on two crucial aspects: first, boosting healthy qi, and second, eliminating cold phlegm in the lungs.

When both aspects are properly regulated, his cough will naturally gradually disappear.

Although cough variant asthma may be concealed, we maintain that with careful observation, scientific diagnosis, and proper regulation, it can be "rooted out" and defeated.

If you or someone close to you experiences similar coughing symptoms, it may be worthwhile to undergo a thorough medical examination to see if cough variant asthma could be the underlying cause.