Pollen, dust mites, mold spores and pet dander allergies may exacerbate asthma symptoms in those who are sensitive to them. People experiencing wheezing or coughing should consult a healthcare provider in order to determine whether their allergies have led to allergy-induced asthma symptoms.
Healthcare professionals typically conduct an in-depth history and family medical review, physical examination and lung function and skin testing in order to properly diagnose allergic asthma.
Symptoms
Allergies cause your immune system to overreact when exposed to normally harmless substances (such as pollen from trees, grasses and weeds; mold spores; animal dander from furred or feathered animals; dust mites; and the feces, saliva and body parts of cockroaches) causing an allergic response that results in symptoms that vary depending on severity and duration. Some allergens trigger wheezing (a rough raspy sound when breathing) coughing; tightness in chest or tightness between these symptoms which last anywhere from 30 seconds to an hour later depending on when exposed; others cause coughing or tightness while waiting their turn – depending on severity and duration.
An asthma attack can be life-threatening and requires urgent medical intervention. One or more attacks per day may require oral steroids or other medicines to control. Exercise, cold air, stress, airborne irritants such as smoke and chemicals as well as certain foods and medications (especially antibiotics), viral respiratory infections as well as certain medical conditions like pregnancy and menstruation periods all increase symptoms significantly.
Healthcare professionals can diagnose allergic asthma by gathering your health history and conducting a physical exam, asking about family histories of asthma or allergies, performing lung function tests and skin/blood allergy testing, as well as offering preventative immunotherapy to make your immune system less sensitive to what causes asthmatic attacks.
Diagnosis
Allergic asthma develops when your immune system overreacts to allergens such as dust mites and pet dander, food allergens or pollen – called allergens – which don’t typically produce symptoms in most individuals, yet your body responds by producing chemicals like histamine that cause irritation in your airways and cause coughing, wheezing and chest tightness symptoms.
Your doctor can diagnose allergic asthma with a thorough physical exam and medical history review to identify any risk factors for it, along with listening to your breathing with a stethoscope to listen for any wheezing in the lungs; wheezing in bed after exposure to known allergy triggers is often indicative of allergic asthma; additionally difficulty breathing while engaging in physical activity may also indicate allergic asthma.
Your doctor will conduct lung function tests such as spirometry to gauge how well your lungs are performing, and allergy testing with skin or blood samples to detect common allergens such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander or mold. If the allergy test shows positive results, additional steps such as the methacholine challenge test could be administered to see how you react – for instance taking a deep breath and forcefully blowing into a device to measure air exhale and response to methacholine which causes airways narrow slightly when exposed.
Treatment
As soon as allergens such as pollen, mold spores, animal dander or dust mites enter our bodies through inhalation, they are quickly recognized by our immune systems as foreign invaders and release chemicals like histamine that cause swelling of nasal sinuses, airways and extra production of mucus; frequent sneezing and itchy eyes also may occur as our body attempts to expel them from the system.
Medication can help control asthma by reducing inflammation and opening airways. Most allergy treatments are available over-the-counter (OTC), but some require a valid prescription – such as nitric oxide inhalers (such as Ventolin), nasal steroids that don’t make you sleepy (Astepro and Nasonex sprays with Azelastine/fluticasone spray), or medication that combines antihistamines and bronchodilators such as Xolair.
Track your potential triggers and collaborate with your doctor on ways to address them, such as hiring someone to cut the grass if pollen counts are high or keeping animals away if pet dander is an issue.
Immunotherapy can also help alleviate allergy and asthma symptoms by gradually exposing the immune system to allergens to build tolerance. This therapy involves allergy shots delivering small doses of allergen over time or sublingual immunotherapy where pills dissolve under the tongue to increase immunity, or both approaches together. Immunotherapy therapies have proven immensely successful at relieving many people of their symptoms; it is vital that regular check-ins with your physician take place to determine if allergy treatment is working and track for new allergies or flare-ups of existing allergies or flare-ups of existing ones.
Prevention
Allergens such as pet dander, mold spores and pollen can trigger asthma symptoms in sensitive individuals, known as triggers. Your immune system should protect you against bacteria and viruses; when an allergy strikes however, its job becomes compromised as it overreacts against something which should not be harmful — like cat dander or pollen — leading to chemical releases from your body that irritate nose, eyes, skin and airways clogging up overreacting against it and making breathing difficult.
Preventing allergies and asthma is of utmost importance for individuals of all ages, especially infants and young children who are most at risk. The first step to take to avoid allergies or asthma attacks is understanding what substances trigger symptoms in yourself or your child; then restrict contact with these substances. Other measures for protection include flu and pneumonia vaccines, washing hands frequently to reduce germs, not smoking, not being around secondhand smoke exposure, staying current on all medications – including allergy shots – taken and getting regular allergy shots as necessary.
Everyone with asthma should work closely with a healthcare provider to create an asthma action plan, which details medications taken daily and monitoring symptoms, along with actions taken if their symptoms worsen. Furthermore, an allergist/immunologist – a doctor trained to treat allergies and asthma – should evaluate you or your child.
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