When examining the perspectives of Donguibogam alongside modern medicine, the relationship between the lung and airflow is remarkably detailed. The tight breathing and hoarse voice that arrive every night are an alert from the body's physiological systems.
In modern medicine, asthma is defined as a chronic respiratory disease that occurs when the bronchus narrows and becomes inflamed due to bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Various factors, including allergens, cold air, stress, and even certain medications, stimulate the bronchus, causing the smooth muscle of the bronchial wall to contract and mucus secretion to increase, which narrows the airway. This leads to characteristic wheezing, paroxysmal cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
Asthma symptoms often worsen at night, which is closely linked to biological rhythms. As night falls, the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system increases, making the bronchus prone to constriction, while the secretion of cortisol, which regulates inflammatory responses, decreases. Additionally, lying flat allows gravity to press on the lungs and bronchus, or gastroesophageal reflux can occur and irritate the airway. These combined factors make nighttime asthma particularly uncomfortable.
A hoarse or strained voice, or vocal cord dysfunction, is also closely related to asthma. Patients with asthma repeatedly irritate their vocal cords through chronic cough. Because of this, vocal cord edema or inflammation can easily develop, and in severe cases, lead to vocal cord nodules or polyps. Furthermore, when coughing, sudden pressure changes in the abdomen and thorax place excessive strain on the vocal cords, causing long-term voice changes.
In addition, inhaled corticosteroids used for asthma treatment can directly affect the vocal cords and cause hoarseness, or induce oral candidiasis, leading to voice changes. Lung function and vocal cord function are closely intertwined. If you experience shortness of breath and a hoarse voice every night, it is important not to dismiss them as simple fatigue, but to visit a medical clinic for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate care. Paying attention to these small signals is the first step in protecting your health.
