What are the treatment methods for menstrual asthma?

Menstrual asthma is a special type of asthma characterized by attacks closely related to the female menstrual cycle, with symptoms typically worsening before or during menstruation. This phenomenon may be associated with hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, especially variations in estrogen and progesterone levels, which can affect airway responsiveness and inflammatory status. Main treatment approaches for menstrual asthma include the following:

1. Medication therapy: Includes long-term control medications and quick-relief medications. Long-term control medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2 agonists, are used for daily prevention; quick-relief medications, such as short-acting β2 agonists, are used to relieve symptoms during acute attacks. For patients with menstrual asthma, it may be necessary to increase medication dosage or frequency during specific periods of the menstrual cycle to manage the effects of hormonal changes.

2. Estrogen therapy: Oral contraceptives or progesterone preparations may be taken starting in the premenstrual phase to regulate estrogen and progesterone levels, thereby reducing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks during menstruation.

3. Lifestyle modifications: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including smoking cessation, avoiding allergen exposure, maintaining regular sleep patterns, and following a balanced diet.

4. Psychological coping strategies: Utilizing relaxation techniques, yoga, meditation, and other methods to help alleviate anxiety and reduce the likelihood of asthma attacks.