讀後心得

Recently, Taiwan is experiencing the flu season, and many people are showing respiratory symptoms, especially coughing. Coughing can be classified into three categories based on duration: acute, subacute, and chronic. Chronic cough may occur frequently without obvious triggers. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that, in addition to dysfunction of the lungs, abnormalities in other organs such as the liver, heart, kidneys, and spleen may also trigger coughing. Dr. Chen suggests that if there is an unexplained cough, one should seek medical attention quickly, and pay attention to staying warm and maintaining a proper diet in daily life to prevent the occurrence of coughing.

Taiwan is experiencing flu season during the transition from winter to spring, with significant day-night temperature differences. Many people easily catch colds and exhibit respiratory symptoms, prompting visits to clinics or hospitals. Patients often express, "Doctor, my cold is gone, why am I still coughing continuously?" This is a common situation heard in clinics recently.

Coughing can be classified into three types based on duration: acute cough, subacute cough, and chronic cough. An acute cough lasts about three weeks; if it persists for more than eight weeks, it is classified as a chronic cough, while a cough lasting between these two durations is called a subacute cough. Doctors indicate that coughing is a self-protective mechanism of the body. When the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract are irritated, the body automatically responds to expel foreign substances. However, for patients with chronic cough, this response may be overly sensitive, leading to frequent coughing even in the absence of obvious irritants.

Traditional Chinese medicine views chronic cough as a sign of internal organ dysfunction. Doctors point out that Traditional Chinese medicine believes: "All organs can cause coughing, not just the lungs." This means that dysfunctions in organs other than the lungs can also trigger coughing. For example, individuals who are accustomed to staying up late or have a irritable temperament may experience coughing accompanied by pressure and pain on both sides of the ribs, which could be related to "liver cough"; while patients with chronic heart failure or kidney failure may cough due to difficulty expelling fluids, termed "kidney cough" or "heart cough." Special attention should be given to "spleen cough," where long-term indigestion or gastroesophageal reflux may lead to coughing due to minor irritation from stomach acid. Moreover, asthma and post-nasal drip are typical examples of "lung cough."

In addition to the causes of cough, the characteristics of the cough are also important, including whether there is phlegm, the color of the phlegm (green, yellow, white, clear, or with blood), the texture of the phlegm (thick or thin), and factors that worsen the cough, such as exposure to wind, air conditioning, consumption of cold or rich foods, or lying down. All of this information is important for doctors to understand during diagnosis and treatment, so it is advisable to provide detailed information to the doctor during consultations.

To prevent coughing, doctors remind that if there is a cough of unknown origin, it is essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment. It is recommended to wear a hat and scarf during times of significant temperature differences in the morning and evening to keep the head and neck warm, which helps with lung air circulation; maintaining moderate exercise and avoiding staying up late can help regulate liver energy, improve mood, and treat coughing; individuals with poorer gastrointestinal function should pay attention to their diet and avoid foods that are difficult to digest and produce gas (such as glutinous rice products, bread, greasy and refined desserts, etc.).