Allergic asthma develops when your immune system overreacts to allergens like pollen, pet dander or mold and responds by inflaming and narrowing the airways, leading to symptoms like wheezing and difficulty breathing.
There are various treatment options available, such as nasal sprays (like Azelastine and Fluticasone), antihistamines and bronchodilators such as Salbutamol.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of allergic asthma are wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. These reactions occur when airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander or certain foods enter the body whereupon our immune systems overreact by labelling these allergens as harmful and narrowing and swelling the airways with excess mucus production.
Allergens can trigger an immune reaction that results in symptoms like runny noses, itchy throats and eyes. This type of response is known as an allergic inflammatory response and involves histamine release.
Mayo Clinic allergy specialist explains that substances which trigger allergy symptoms (hay fever), such as pollen, dust mites, animal dander and food allergens, may also trigger asthma symptoms in someone at the same time – sometimes coexisting in one individual.
Allergies and asthma can be triggered by exercise, cold or dry air, certain medicines and extreme emotions. Uncontrolled asthma attacks can be debilitating; leading to fatigue that disrupts work/school schedules as well as increasing stress/anxiety levels that have an impactful impact on mental health. Unplanned visits to emergency room/hospital for unexpected reasons can also have major disruptions on daily routine and negatively affect quality of life which in turn could lead to depression as people come to believe that they won’t live life as desired.
Diagnosis
Asthma symptoms can often be brought on by exposure to allergens such as pet dander, dust mites, mold spores or pollen – allergens which trigger an immune response which leads to airway inflammation and narrowing, creating difficulty in breathing. Once diagnosed with allergic asthma, individuals can work with healthcare providers and healthcare diaries to identify possible triggers as well as create a plan to control symptoms; including keeping a diary of symptoms so as to identify what sets off asthma attacks as well as ways of avoiding attacks altogether.
Doctors usually perform a thorough medical history review, physical exam and lung function tests when diagnosing allergy-induced asthma. Additionally, doctors may perform tests to detect potential triggers that could set off an asthma attack, such as cigarettes smoke, chemical fumes, strong odors or cold air.
Allergy blood tests or skin testing is often used to identify allergens which trigger symptoms in an individual. Skin testing typically involves pricking the skin with tiny needles and may cause minor pain, bleeding or swelling – although blood testing is less invasive but still has potential false positive results due to missing some allergies and may produce false positives.
Once someone is diagnosed with allergic asthma, he or she should consult an allergist in order to devise a personalized plan of care that addresses both aspects of his or her allergy and asthma symptoms. A treatment plan may involve avoiding known allergens and managing symptoms with short-acting inhaler/nebulizer medications as well as long-term control medicines which reduce inflammation. An allergist may also recommend immunotherapy which teaches the body how to adapt gradually over time without reacting as strongly against allergens.
Treatment
No one knows for certain a cure for allergic asthma, but medications can provide effective control. Treatment plans typically involve avoiding allergens that trigger attacks and taking preventive medications; allergy shots (sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) helps build tolerance over time to specific allergens reducing medication requirements over time.
When suffering a sudden and severe attack, quick-relief inhalers such as albuterol (ProAir HFA or Ventolin HFA, Inhaler), pirbuteline (Benair), salmeterol (Serevent or in Singulair) or fluticasone (Flovent Diskus or Xhance) can provide temporary relief and make breathing easier. These drugs are known as bronchodilators.
Other long-term control medications for asthma symptoms reduce inflammation in the lungs by targeting inflammation with glucocorticoids like prednisone (Prednisone Sodium PDE-5 Inhaler) and budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler, Pulmicort Respules, Rhinocort), leukotriene modifiers like montelukast (Singulair), as well as montelukast. Furthermore, new biologic drugs that modify immune systems while improving asthma symptoms may also be prescribed such as dupixent (Dupixent), Fasenra (Fasenra) or Tezspire (Tezspire).
Long-term oral steroids may be necessary for treating moderate to severe allergy-induced asthma in some patients, and Allergy & ENT Associates of Clear Lake has recognized this need and adopted biologic treatments such as Xolair (Dupixent) and Nucala as complementary tools to inhalers and lifestyle adjustments designed to minimize exposure to allergens that provoke attacks.
Prevention
Allergens can exacerbate asthma symptoms by making your lungs hypersensitive to elements that normally wouldn’t bother them, leading to airway inflammation, tightening and filling with mucus that makes breathing hard. Allergens can be found everywhere: from pollen from trees and grasses, through grass, weeds and ragweed to dust mites, pet dander (dried skin flakes) and mold; seasonal or year-round allergies could all trigger asthma symptoms in you.
Allergies can be avoided by avoiding known triggers. This means removing pets from homes where allergies are an issue, washing bedding at least weekly in hot water and using HEPA filters on vacuums; additionally using allergy medicines like saline nose rinses and nasal corticosteroid sprays or taking long-term control medications like bronchodilators or steroids which reduce inflammation in airways (for example inhalers or nebulizers can help).
As needed, quick-relief medication such as an antihistamine or decongestant may also help stop symptoms from worsening. Your physician can work with you to create a treatment plan for allergic asthma that includes long-term control medications as well as how and when to use quick-relief remedies when symptoms flare up.
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