Allergens such as pollen, pet dander, mold and dust mites can trigger asthma symptoms for people suffering from allergic asthma. These allergens cause their immune systems to overreact and lead to inflammation and narrowing of airways resulting in symptoms that worsen over time.
Allergen avoidance and medications like bronchodilators and steroids are effective methods for managing this condition, while immunotherapy may reduce your sensitivity over time.
Symptoms
Allergic asthma occurs when your immune system overreacts to allergens like dust mites, pet dander, pollen or mold spores and creates symptoms such as chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. Some individuals with allergic asthma also have hay fever – an allergy which results in runny noses and itchy eyes – in addition to this form of respiratory condition.
As soon as an allergen enters your lungs, your immune system mistakes it for a dangerous substance and responds accordingly. Swollen airways produce additional mucus to flush out allergens – all this making breathing difficult while leading to symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose or itchy eyes.
Your allergic asthma may be manageable with medication and by avoiding triggers like allergens, air pollutants (like smoke or chemical fumes ) and exercise, but other triggers like viral respiratory infections, cold air exposure, certain medicines or stress may lead to flare-ups of symptoms.
Your doctor is your best resource in managing allergies and asthma effectively. They may suggest keeping a symptom diary to identify allergy triggers, then avoidance when possible; or updating your asthma action plan. Preventive treatments like allergy immunotherapy may help make you less sensitive over time while board-certified allergists/asthma specialists can diagnose your condition and create personalized plans of care.
Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider will begin diagnosing asthma by discussing your symptoms and family history, conducting a physical exam and listening to your lungs, performing an allergy test and checking for other health problems such as allergies or eczema (a bumpy skin condition). Furthermore, allergens like pet dander, mold spores, dust mites or pollen from trees, grasses weeds or flowers could trigger asthmatic attacks by inflaming airways to produce symptoms like wheezing and coughing; additionally they may test for other triggers such as smoking or occupational exposures to determine if there could be anything triggering it as well.
Your healthcare professional may conduct lung tests such as spirometry or fractional exhaled nitric oxide testing to assess how effectively your lungs are working, and allergy tests such as skin prick tests or blood analyses to identify allergens which might be contributing to symptoms.
Allergy treatment can help alleviate symptoms. In order to do so effectively, you will need to avoid your triggers and take your medicines as directed by your physician. Furthermore, keep a symptom diary so you can anticipate when symptoms may appear in order to minimize future recurrences. Your physician can work with you on creating an asthma action plan outlining medication, potential triggers and management tools.
Treatment
Work closely with healthcare providers and those suffering from allergic asthma can reduce its impact on their lives by working closely together. They may even prevent severe episodes by controlling allergen exposure, taking medications to manage symptoms, and working to decrease stress levels.
People with allergies often overreact when exposed to allergens. Their immune systems produce chemicals like histamines which trigger an inflammatory response in which blood vessels dilate, airways narrow, and walls thicken which obstruct airflow in and out of lungs, making breathing difficult. Furthermore, this response causes excessive mucus production which in turn produces symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath – symptoms which in severe cases could even prove life threatening.
Healthcare professionals can assist individuals suffering from allergic asthma by identifying the allergens that exacerbate their symptoms and conducting skin prick tests and lung function tests such as spirometry. Furthermore, healthcare providers may prescribe both control medications and quick-relief inhalable medications using devices called nebulizers.
Healthcare professionals may recommend allergy immunotherapy, which involves gradually exposing individuals to small doses of allergen in order to decrease allergic responses over time. This treatment may come in the form of injections (Xolair) or under-the-tongue immunotherapy tablets that dissolve under the tongue with allergen extracts.
Prevention
An allergic asthma attack may reduce blood oxygen levels to dangerously low levels (hypoxemia), leading to brain damage or even death. A severe attack can also increase anxiety levels significantly and decrease quality of life significantly; additionally, uncontrolled attacks may disrupt work schedules and school routines.
Avoiding allergy triggers is key to alleviating symptoms. Common culprits include pollen, pet dander and mold; however food allergies are another potential source. Cheese, chocolate, eggs and soy may cause issues for those with food allergies while food additives like sulfites may further worsen symptoms. Other allergens to be wary of include cigarette smoke and air pollutants.
Healthcare professionals can assist in identifying triggers and developing ways to reduce their impact. They may suggest avoiding allergens when possible and prescribing long-term control medications to reduce flare ups; such medications can prevent tightening of airways as well as block chemical releases that cause reactions.
People living with asthma should avoid being around sick people, wash their hands often and receive recommended vaccinations – such as getting the flu shot to reduce risk and the pneumococcal vaccine to protect against pneumonia. Also taking quick-relief medication as prescribed can provide quick relief during an attack.
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