Allergens can exacerbate asthma symptoms by irritating the lungs and airways, causing wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath; such symptoms may become severe enough to require emergency medical treatment.
People suffering from allergic asthma may take medication such as inhalers and oral steroids to manage their symptoms, or allergy shots (immunotherapy) could provide long-term management solutions.
Symptoms
Allergic asthma is a type of respiratory condition made worse when you inhale allergens like dust mites, pollen, pet dander or mold into the airways – such as dust mites, pollen, pet dander or mold – that trigger your immune system into overreacting and tightening airways, leading to shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing as well as itchy eyes or nose. People allergic to such substances also often suffer from allergic rhinitis which causes sneezing runsny nose and watery eyes among other symptoms.
An allergic asthma attack causes muscles around the airways to tighten, with inflammation inflaming lung linings which then narrows airways further. Your body also produces extra mucus in an effort to rid itself of allergens; this compounded difficulty breathing becomes what’s known as an asthma or wheezing attack.
Your doctor will begin by gathering details on your symptoms and family history of allergy, hay fever or asthma. They’ll examine your chest and throat for signs of inflammation; additionally they may conduct blood tests to detect specific chemicals produced when airways become irritated.
Medication such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids can help control asthma attacks by helping you breathe easier. You can take these medicines using a nebulizer or inhaler. Antihistamines may also be prescribed to reduce allergy symptoms like itchy eyes. Avoiding allergens that trigger your symptoms as well as practicing stress reduction techniques will allow for a more normal lifestyle with asthma.
Diagnosis
An individual with allergic asthma experiences an immune system overreaction when exposed to specific allergens (such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen or mold) which leads to their airways becoming inflamed and narrowed; this causes symptoms like coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. It is crucial for individuals with this disease to recognize triggers early and work closely with healthcare providers to develop a plan to control it effectively.
Healthcare providers use several strategies to diagnose asthma. First, they will collect the patient’s personal and family medical histories before conducting a physical exam and lung function tests such as spirometry or fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Lung function tests such as these provide insights into how well your lungs are functioning while allergy testing such as skin prick tests or blood testing can provide further data regarding specific allergens that could trigger attacks.
Recording symptoms is also vital in order for doctors to assess how severe an allergy or asthma attack might be. Other diagnostic tests include chest X-ray and methacholine challenge. A sputum eosinophils test detects high levels of white blood cells associated with allergic asthma while provocative testing measures how the lung responds to exercise or cold air exposure, which could trigger airway constriction. Regular follow up appointments allow a doctor to monitor how someone’s symptoms have responded to medication prescribed and if there have been changes as a result.
Treatment
Allergy can trigger an immune response and result in symptoms like shortness of breath, which in turn trigger other forms of asthma, such as physical activity or respiratory infections. Healthcare professionals offer several treatments designed to manage or mitigate allergic asthma so as to keep symptoms from exacerbating further.
Antihistamines can also help improve breathing by treating allergies. Available over the counter and by prescription, these antihistamines work by blocking histamine – the chemical released during an allergic reaction that leads to symptoms like sneezing, runny noses, itchy, watery eyes and hives.
Immunotherapy injections, also known as allergy shots, have proven successful at alleviating allergy symptoms and can even aid with asthma symptoms for some individuals. When administered by a certified allergist, these shots can increase tolerance against specific allergens and help decrease medication needs.
Another solution is bronchial thermoplasty, a process in which radio frequency energy is used to apply heat directly to muscles of the airways and reduce smooth muscle tissue by applying heat with radiofrequency energy. This allows airways to open more freely while decreasing flare-ups. If you suffer from severe allergic asthma, speak to your allergist about this and other treatments; download our Severe Asthma Treatment Decision-Making Worksheet as a starting point.
Prevention
Individuals suffering from allergic asthma should adhere to a treatment plan, including regular monitoring and taking maintenance medication such as inhaled corticosteroids or bronchodilators. Allergy shots may also help decrease allergic reactions.
Allergens can trigger asthma in those sensitive to them, narrowing airways and making breathing harder. They are present everywhere – pet dander, mold found in decaying vegetation or pollen from trees, grass, weeds or ragweed can be allergens; spring, summer or fall allergies to these plants often flare up more strongly.
People living with asthma can reduce allergen exposure in their home by eliminating pets, washing bedding and stuffed toys regularly, vacuuming carpeted furniture frequently using HEPA filter or electrostatic brush vacuuming systems, replacing carpet with linoleum or wood floors and covering pillows, mattresses and box springs with dustproof covers. Individuals should also make an effort to wash their hands regularly as well as avoid coming in contact with cockroaches and rodents (and their droppings).
Uncontrolled allergy asthma attacks can be life-threatening, so it is vital that individuals monitor their breathing and seek medical assistance if symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing become severe. Furthermore, flu and pneumonia vaccines should also be obtained in order to protect against infections that worsen asthma symptoms; without regular control this can lead to fatigue affecting daily activities and work performance negatively.
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