Allergens such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander and mold spores can trigger asthma symptoms in certain people, prompting an immune response of inflammation that causes narrowed airways and extra mucus production.
Your doctor will conduct tests to ascertain if allergies are the source of your asthma, such as lung function testing (spirometry) and allergy tests such as skin prick or blood tests.
Symptoms
There are various asthma symptoms, but the most frequently experienced ones include wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Triggering factors for symptoms can include inhaling allergens like pollen, dust mites, pet dander or mold spores – inhalation causes your immune system to release chemicals which exacerbate inflammation in the airways by inducing inflammation and swelling.
Other triggers, including physical activity, respiratory infections, tobacco smoke or weather conditions can irritate asthmatics as well as worsen it further. People with allergic asthma are also more likely to suffer from other chronic health problems like eczema and hay fever than people without it.
Severe allergic asthma attacks can be life-threatening, dropping oxygen levels to vital organs like the heart and brain and potentially damaging them permanently. Therefore, people suffering from such allergies and asthma should seek emergency medical assistance immediately.
Your allergist may provide quick-relief medications such as inhalers that can be taken whenever symptoms flare. They may also suggest long-term control medicines called corticosteroids which should be taken daily to reduce inflammation and avoid attacks, and also known as allergy immunotherapy – a preventive treatment involving regular injections or sublingual tablets (allergy shots or sublingual immunotherapy) designed to make you less sensitive to allergens that trigger reactions.
Diagnosis
Asthma occurs when part of your immune system overreacts to harmless substances called allergens, triggering coughing and wheezing reactions when these allergens enter your body. Common allergy triggers include pet dander, mold spores, dust mites and seasonal or year-round pollen – however these conditions tend to impact children more than adults.
Your doctor will evaluate both your family history and physical exam in order to provide an accurate diagnosis. Lung function tests may also be done; for instance, these may include tests for excess nitric oxide in your blood or even testing for certain white blood cells known as eosinophils in mucus/saliva mixture that you cough up.
Your doctor is likely to recommend asthma medicines, including quick-relief medicine as necessary, to ease your symptoms as needed. They might also suggest allergy testing (skin or blood) and immunotherapy treatments designed to help your body build up immunity to allergens over time.
Exercise, cold air, cigarette smoke, medications and strong odors may all trigger asthma and allergies in some individuals. You can reduce exposure by avoiding these triggers; your physician can assist in keeping a symptom diary that will identify and track them effectively.
Prevention
Triggers for people living with allergic asthma include allergens like pollen, pet dander and mold; cold air; exercise; infections; stress and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); as well as medications like aspirin or steroids that act as stimuli to increase breathing difficulty.
People living with allergies can reduce the likelihood of having a flare-up by avoiding their triggers and using preventive medicines like long-term control medications and quick relief drugs administered through inhalers or nebulizers to control inflammation that leads to airways narrowing and mucus production. Preventive medicines should be taken daily even if there are no symptoms present;
Allergy medications such as antihistamines and decongestants may be taken orally; however, for optimal effectiveness they should be used regularly during allergy season – often on a daily basis. They can also be combined with saline (salt water) nasal rinses to decrease mucus production and flush away allergens from your nose more quickly.
Some individuals suffering from allergies can benefit from immunotherapy, which entails taking small doses of allergens on a regular basis in order to build tolerance over time. This treatment option can take place through allergy shots or tablets that dissolve under the tongue.
Comments are closed