Allergic asthma develops when allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold and pet dander enter the body and trigger an immune response that tightens airways and produces additional mucus production.
Untreated allergy asthma can cause serious symptoms, including shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. Quick-acting medicines help relieve symptoms quickly while long-term solutions keep symptoms under control.
Symptoms
Allergic asthma results when certain components of the immune system overreact to allergens that trigger symptoms in those allergic to specific substances, leading to airways swelling and narrowing (bronchoconstriction) as well as overproduction of mucus. This makes breathing difficult and may trigger an asthma attack requiring immediate medical care for severe attacks that require emergency treatment.
Allergens can be found anywhere, such as pet dander, mold spores, dust mites, tree, grass or weed pollen as well as cockroach allergens (feces, saliva and body parts). When exposed to such substances, people with allergic asthma become inflamed and irritated airways become swollen with wheezing coughing shortness of breath symptoms resulting from inflammation of airways.
People suffering from allergies may also have runny noses or itchy eyes, and using saline rinse (nasal spray with salt water) as part of an allergy relief treatment can reduce mucus production as well as alleviate irritation caused by their allergies in their nose.
Healthcare providers can diagnose allergic asthma by questioning about symptoms and conducting a physical exam, asking about family history and performing breathing tests. Skin testing may also be used to pinpoint allergens the person is reacting to; allergy avoidance, control medicine/quick relief medicine such as inhalers/nebulizers and immunotherapy (allergy shots) are the main treatments available.
Diagnosis
Identification and management of allergen exposures can help relieve allergic asthma symptoms. An allergic asthma attack occurs when the immune system overreacts to common allergens like pet dander, dust mites, pollen or mold spores; such exposures may trigger wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath or chest tightness attacks that require medical intervention.
If you suspect that either you or your child has allergic asthma, consult with a board-certified allergist immediately. They will ask about symptoms and family history before performing an exam and running lung function tests such as spirometry to measure how much air leaves the lungs when exhaled outwards. They may also conduct allergy testing which includes skin or blood analysis to check for sensitivities to seasonal or year-round allergens such as grasses, trees, weeds, molds, animal dander or any other potential triggers.
Your doctor will likely prescribe medicines to control and manage asthma, in addition to some for treating acute episodes such as wheezing and shortness of breath. Quick-relief medicines may be taken orally or using an inhaler; controlling medicine should typically be delivered using a nebulizer device. Your allergist might suggest immunotherapy as a long-term solution by administering allergy shots or sublingual tablets that dissolve under your tongue over time.
Treatment
There is no cure for allergic asthma, but medical treatments may provide relief and prevent severe attacks. Healthcare professionals start by identifying any allergens that could trigger attacks; then perform tests such as chest X-ray, blood test and breathing tests called spirometry to measure breathing rates. They may also administer methacholine medication to gauge how your airways respond.
They then help you find ways to avoid allergens, whether pollen is an issue for you, cats or dogs are, etc. Additionally, it could involve regularly washing clothing, rugs and cleaning your house using vacuums, mop floors or damp rags.
Your doctor may prescribe fast-acting medicines like albuterol (Inhaler), leukotriene modifiers and steroids if your symptoms worsen, such as albuterol. They might also provide long-term allergy medicines to reduce airway inflammation such as cromolyn, steroid pills or inhaled corticosteroids.
Immunotherapy for allergies works to gradually lower your immune system’s sensitivity to certain allergens, using shots administered through immunotherapy injections. Your provider applies drops containing various allergens onto your skin before giving an injection injection every week for several months and then once every month thereafter; newer medicines, like Omalizumab (Xolair), help prevent allergic reactions while simultaneously improving asthma control.
Prevention
By managing their asthma with medication and avoiding triggers, people can reduce both frequency and severity of attacks. People who are allergic should avoid medications which aggravate symptoms further – for instance sulfites found in food such as beer and wine as well as certain drugs like aspirin and high blood pressure medications (beta-blockers/ACE inhibitors).
Allergies and asthma tend to run in families, increasing the likelihood that someone inheriting it might develop them themselves. Allergic asthma isn’t exclusive to children or adults with other forms of allergies such as eczema or rhinitis (hay fever), but is most frequently found among them.
As soon as a person with allergic asthma encounters a trigger, their immune system produces antibodies to neutralise it, producing symptoms like runny noses, itchy eyes, sneezing and wheezing that have become all too familiar over the years. Sometimes these reactions may even become severe enough to lead to hypoxia (a decrease in oxygen) within their bodies – potentially life threatening situations!
People living with allergic asthma should work with their physician to develop an action plan, including medication, identifying and avoiding triggers, and scheduling regular follow-up. Furthermore, they should wear a medical alert bracelet to alert medical personnel in case of emergency care needs.
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