Allergic asthma is a progressive lung condition triggered by allergens. When exposed to allergens, our immune systems respond by producing antibodies which bind and irritate airways and make breathing difficult.
Wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath are symptoms that healthcare professionals can diagnose by conducting lung function tests or skin prick testing. Furthermore, allergen immunotherapy therapy (in the form of allergy shots or tablets) may help build tolerance to allergens that cause such reactions.
Symptoms
People living with asthma tend to respond to triggers by tightening up the muscles around their airways, narrowing it and making breathing more difficult, known as bronchoconstriction. Their immune systems also overreact negatively when exposed to allergens like pet dander, dust mites or pollen that trigger symptoms like wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath – symptoms which allergic asthmatics also often exhibit along with other allergies like eczema or hay fever.
An allergy occurs when the immune system overreacts to something non-harmful, like food, pollen or animal dander. When antibodies bind with these allergens and cause airway inflammation and swelling – leading to asthma symptoms like runny nose, itchy eyes/skin irritation, sneezing and wheezing.
Healthcare professionals may take several steps in diagnosing allergic asthma. These may include gathering your medical history, performing lung function tests and conducting allergy testing on your skin and blood. Allergy testing will identify what you are sensitive to so that you can avoid or limit exposure to it. In addition, your doctor will discuss your symptom pattern and devise an asthma action plan; keeping a symptom diary may also help in identifying triggers so you and your physician can treat them before they cause a full-scale asthma attack.
Diagnosis
Allergic asthma symptoms may be brought on by allergens like pet dander, mold spores, dust mites and pollen; cold air, exercise, stress or certain medicines or diet can also play a part. A symptom diary will help identify your triggers and track how often they impact you; follow-up appointments allow doctors to evaluate whether your symptoms have improved as well as assess their severity.
Healthcare professionals will evaluate your symptoms, conduct a physical examination and run lung tests. They will ask about family histories of allergies, asthma or hay fever; related health problems; as well as work, home and dietary habits to understand why your symptoms exist.
Lung function tests such as spirometry measure the health of your lungs. They may include testing before and after inhaling a medicine known as a bronchodilator that opens airways; an FeNO (exhaled nitric oxide) test helps diagnose inflammation in the airways; allergy testing via skin prick or blood tests can reveal what your allergic to; allergies can trigger your immune system to overreact by producing chemicals like histamine that cause irritation in the airway and swelling, leading to airway irritation and swelling.
Treatment
As soon as an allergen such as pet dander, mold or pollen enters our bodies through breathing inhaled allergens such as pet dander, mold or pollen we experience an immune reaction and release of histamine which causes tissues in our nose, sinuses and airways to swell up with extra mucus production in an effort to expel its presence from our system. With asthma this narrowing and swelling can result in wheezing and shortness of breath – something histamine cannot do
Asthma attacks can be life-threatening and require immediate medical care, yet managing its symptoms with a customized plan developed by your physician is often possible. Your physician may suggest taking over-the-counter allergy medicines in pill or liquid form or allergy shots (immunotherapy).
Antihistamines help block histamine released during allergic reactions. For optimal results, take daily during allergy season or as directed by your healthcare provider.
Allergen immunotherapy (also referred to as allergy shots or subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT)) helps you build tolerance to allergens by gradually administering small doses of allergen extract over time. Sessions usually occur once or twice weekly in your doctor’s office and typically last from three to five years.
Preventer medications, including inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene modifiers, reduce inflammation in the airways while relaxing them to make breathing easier. Your physician will review your medical history and devise an asthma action plan, outlining when and how often medication needs to be taken as well as how to identify an attack.
Prevention
Allergies and asthma often go hand-in-hand, and allergens that trigger allergy symptoms — like animal dander, pollen or mold spores — can also trigger asthma in some individuals. When these allergens enter the body they can cause immune cells to attack the airways causing inflammation and narrowing.
An effective strategy to treat allergic asthma is avoiding known triggers. This may include avoiding animals to which one is allergic (like cats and dogs), using air conditioning during times when pollution or pollen counts are high, keeping windows closed, keeping doors and gates shut, using hot water regularly to wash bedding to kill allergens, etc.
If your asthma episode is triggered by allergies, antihistamines and bronchodilators can be helpful in controlling its symptoms. Immunotherapy (allergy shots) may reduce sensitivity to allergens thereby decreasing both allergy symptoms and asthma episodes over time.
Individuals suffering from both allergies and asthma should collaborate with a health care provider in identifying allergy triggers that cause or worsen asthma symptoms, depending on a person’s medical history, health condition and environment. Skin or blood testing for allergens may be required to identify which allergens pose the greatest threat; once identified, avoiding those allergens can significantly reduce or eliminate asthma symptoms altogether. Furthermore, an Epi pen should always be kept with them to treat life-threatening allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis.
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