Pet dander, dust mites, mold spores and pollen can trigger asthma symptoms in certain individuals. It is therefore crucial that you identify and understand your allergy/asthma triggers so you can work with your provider to create an individualized treatment plan to manage them effectively.
Your doctor may conduct lung function tests and allergy skin or blood testing. Allergy immunotherapy – such as allergy shots that dissolve under the tongue – may also be recommended as long-term solutions.
Medications
No cure exists for allergic asthma; however, medication can help manage its symptoms and keep you healthy. Your allergist will prescribe quick-acting and long-term control medicines based on the severity of your condition; allergy shots may also be prescribed.
Quick-relief medicines work to relax muscles around your airways, helping the airways open up more fully. Examples of such short-acting beta-agonists are albuterol (ProAir HFA and Ventolin HFA), epinephrine (Asthmanefrin Primatene Mist and Levalbuterol (Xopenex), while anticholinergics like Ipratropium Atrovent can reduce mucus build-up while oral corticosteroids such as prednisone or methylprednisolone may help lower swelling in the airways.
Long-term control medications help prevent inflammation in your airways and decrease your chances of an attack, including fluticasone propionate (Flovent HFA and Diskus), budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler, Pulmicort Respules and Rhinocort), beclomethasone (Qvar Redihaler), ciclesonide (Alvesco), montelukast sodium, zafirlukast and zileuton are among many others that help manage inflammation.
Allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, work by modulating how your immune system reacts to allergens that exacerbate asthma symptoms. After using skin tests to identify potential allergens, small doses are then given intravenously over time in order to build tolerance over time.
Allergen Avoidance
People allergic to indoor allergens like pollen from trees, grasses, weeds and mold spores as well as pet dander, feathers and fur as well as dust mites and cockroaches may benefit from multicomponent interventions aimed at allergen avoidance. Such strategies include identification and limitation of allergy triggers like having pets removed from homes; using HEPA-type vacuum cleaners; or washing bedding in hot water in order to reduce dust mite counts.
Allergen avoidance has been shown to improve asthma symptoms, reduce emergency department visits and missed school days compared to control groups. Although some controversy exists around its efficacy, many well-designed clinical trials support using an all-inclusive avoidance strategy in asthmatic patients.
A symptom diary can help patients identify triggers and take steps to eliminate allergens. Many with allergic asthma also experience non-allergic triggers that exacerbate symptoms, including cigarette smoke, cold air, exercise, stress, medications and hormonal changes (like pregnancy). Some can benefit from allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots), which trains their bodies over time to tolerate triggers more easily – this long-term solution often prescribed alongside medications for asthma control; unfortunately there is no known cure; management must remain ongoing.
Lifestyle Changes
When allergy symptoms are triggered by allergens, the immune system overreacts and causes inflammation of the airways, leading to wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing. Luckily, treatment options exist that can help control asthma and allergies.
First step to treating allergy symptoms is identifying which allergen triggers them, then consulting with a doctor on an allergy treatment plan. Treatment typically entails avoiding exposure to allergens while taking medications like inhaled steroids for inflammation reduction and bronchodilators for airway opening. If severe reactions persist, immunotherapy may also be needed in the form of allergy shots or tablets like Xolair or Spiriva Respimat to build tolerance against allergens.
A healthy lifestyle can also play a key role in managing allergies and asthma. Exercise can increase lung function and decrease severity of asthma symptoms; keeping your home clean by limiting dust build-up helps avoid triggers from building up; smoking worsens asthma symptoms; getting regular screenings like those from Redcliffe Labs can detect any chronic diseases that affect allergies or asthma; working closely with a physician is best to understand symptoms, triggers, and treatment options for yourself and family members.
Trigger Management
Triggers of asthma symptoms include respiratory infections or pollutants; exercise; emotions or cold air can all act as triggers. When someone with asthma experiences an attack they typically experience wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and other breathing difficulties – it is therefore essential that those living with the disease understand their personal triggers in order to minimise or avoid them as much as possible.
Many people with asthma suffer from allergies that can trigger symptoms, including dust mites, animal dander, mould and pollen found inside and outside their homes. To reduce allergies in both cases, keeping the house clean through vacuuming weekly with HEPA filter and surface cleaning can be effective ways of mitigating allergies; alternative cleaning products with less harsh chemicals may also help.
Environment modification can be challenging, but understanding your triggers and avoiding them is crucial for managing symptoms and increasing quality of life.
An allergist, or specialist in allergies and immunology, can assist in diagnosing and managing allergies and asthma. They will develop a treatment plan with quick-relief rescue medications as well as long-term controller medications based on their findings at each visit, taking note of your symptoms at each time to adjust medication as necessary.
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