Individuals living with allergic asthma suffer from a chronic lung condition that manifests itself with symptoms like wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. They must learn to identify triggers as well as create and implement an individualised treatment plan which may include medications like inhaled steroids and bronchodilators.
Immune systems often overreact to allergens like pollen, dust mites, pet dander or mold which cause inflammation and narrowing in the lungs.
Medications
Although no cure exists, allergic asthma symptoms can be managed using medications. An allergist will perform skin tests to pinpoint which particles – known as allergens – are triggering your symptoms and prescribe allergy shots as immunotherapy to gradually lessen sensitivity over time.
Long-term medication includes inhaled corticosteroids (fluticasone, budesonide, mometasone and ciclesonide) and leukotriene modifiers such as montelukast sodium, zafirlukast or zileuton to reduce inflammation in the lungs; they’re known as bronchodilators or can be combined with long-acting beta2-agonists like salmeterol formoterol or vilanterol to increase efficacy.
Antihistamines like Azelastine nasal spray (Astepro) and Cetirizine pills (Zyrtec), can help block histamine that causes runny nose, itchy, watery eyes and sinusitis symptoms. Both antihistamine medications are available both over-the-counter (OTC) and by prescription; for faster-acting relief there may also be combinations such as Azelastine with fluticasone (Dymista) or Oxymetazoline nasal spray (Afrin).
Lifestyle Changes
Your allergy doctor can assist in the identification of asthma and allergy triggers that trigger flare-ups – these could include pollen, dust mites, cockroaches, animals or smoke – so that you can take steps to limit exposure to them; for instance hiring someone to cut your grass regularly (if pollen allergy is an issue for you) or purchasing an air purifier and/or keeping pets out of bedrooms (unless they cause allergic reactions in you).
Your allergist can also provide guidance for making lifestyle adjustments to enhance overall health. This may include getting enough restful sleep and eating a balanced diet as well as avoiding certain food that trigger allergies or asthma symptoms.
Foods containing preservatives may increase your risk of asthma attacks as they lead to inflammation in the lungs. Your allergy doctor can recommend healthier alternatives, such as fresh fruits and vegetables that contain plenty of antioxidants.
Stress can also be a trigger for asthma attacks, so try to relax and remain calm around people who seem stressed out or anxious. Regular physical activity such as yoga can also help relieve tension. Speak to your allergist about effective stress reduction techniques that work for you; additionally, join a support group dedicated to people living with asthma and allergies.
Allergen Avoidance
Allergic asthma is caused by an immune system overreaction to certain allergens. Achieve successful management requires avoiding these allergens – such as dust mites and pet dander in the home, pollen season outdoor activities such as hiking and gardening etc – as well as food triggers like dairy products, eggs nuts peanuts. Furthermore, chemicals found in cleaning products, paper receipts from thermal printers as well as alcohol can all cause symptoms in some people with allergic asthma.
As an initial step, patients should undergo allergy testing to identify their allergens. Next, they can work with their physician to reduce exposure via environmental control interventions such as decreasing indoor allergen exposure or medication.
Avoidance may not always be feasible or effective in protecting against allergens, particularly outdoor allergens such as grass and tree pollen that travel over long distances and peak at different seasons. Air pollution, wood smoke or tobacco smoke from fires/tobacco smoke, cold temperatures or strong odors may also act as triggers that affect respiratory tract, skin, eyes/nose/throat health negatively. Therefore it is most effective to combine allergen avoidance with an integrated treatment plan including medications as well as avoiding known triggers to ensure maximum protection.
Follow-Up Care
People suffering from allergic asthma may suffer a life-threatening reaction to allergens, leading to their airways narrowing and making breathing more difficult. Therefore, it’s essential that they identify and avoid any potential triggers which might set off an attack.
Treatment for allergic asthma entails medications like bronchodilators and corticosteroids to open airways and decrease inflammation, as well as immunotherapy that teaches your body how to tolerate allergens better over time through allergy shots or sublingual tablets that dissolve under your tongue.
At regular intervals, it is essential to visit a physician so they can monitor how effectively your treatments are working and make necessary changes as required. A peak flow meter can measure how much air can be exhaled from your lungs at one time – this measurement helps assess how severe symptoms may be.
Record potential triggers and how often they appear, to assist healthcare professionals in understanding your allergy or asthma profile and finding treatments tailored specifically for you. Furthermore, routine visits can improve adherence and patient-physician partnership which in turn may lead to improved outcomes (Table 4). This is particularly true among patients with multiple co-morbidities as shown here.
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