Allergic asthma can be caused by certain allergens like pollen, dust mites, pet dander or certain foods that trigger your immune system into overreacting and irritating the airways, leading to symptoms like wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.
Allergy immunotherapy provides individuals suffering from allergic asthma a way to become less sensitive to allergens. Treatment options include injections or sublingual tablets that dissolve under the tongue.
Symptoms
Allergic asthma causes wheezing and shortness of breath when exposed to dust mites, pollen, animal dander or mold spores that trigger their immune systems’ overreaction and cause their airways to narrow and swell – these reactions can range from mild to life-threatening severity depending on exposure to an allergen.
Healthcare professionals can diagnose allergic asthma by asking patients about their symptoms and medical history, performing physical exams and ordering tests to evaluate how well the lungs are working.
Skin testing is the primary way of testing allergies. A healthcare provider will prick the skin with an allergen-containing needle and look for signs of reaction such as red or discolored spots on the skin or hives.
Other methods for testing allergies include blood tests and the breathing test known as spirometry, which measures how much air can escape after exhaling, helping determine whether asthma symptoms stem from allergies alone or other causes like exercise, smoke exposure or respiratory infections.
Some individuals may be predisposed to developing allergies and asthma due to both genetics and environmental factors. Risk factors that increase likelihood include family history of allergies or asthma, atopic disease like eczema or exposure to certain substances like tobacco smoke or allergens.
Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider will begin the diagnosis of allergic asthma with a physical exam and ask about your symptoms, activities that make things better or worse and whether inflammation exists in your airways. They may then order lung function tests like spirometry to measure lung performance as well as inflammation levels in your airways and skin prick or blood tests to identify allergens such as animal dander, mold spores, grass pollen, dust mite feces or dust mites which might be contributing.
People suffering from allergic asthma have a condition known as bronchial hyperresponsiveness, in which their airways tighten up during an attack and produce extra mucus, making the airways susceptible to exercise, cold air, respiratory infections or tobacco smoke as potential triggers for attacks. Furthermore, allergic asthma attacks can sometimes even be precipitated by medications prescribed to them.
An individual with allergic asthma often displays similar symptoms to those suffering from other forms of asthma, including wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. What differentiates allergic asthma is its trigger: pet dander, pollen or dust mites are some potential culprits that could bring on symptoms; other possible triggers could be exercise, air pollution or strong scents – or tobacco smoke for that matter!
Treatment
Treatment of allergic asthma should aim to manage symptoms and avoid flare-ups so individuals can live fulfilling lives. To do this, individuals must identify their triggers and collaborate with healthcare professionals on creating an individualized treatment plan.
Doctors begin by collecting an exhaustive medical and family history and performing lung function tests such as spirometry. Lung function tests may also include spirometry. Allergy testing, which may include skin prick or blood tests to ascertain what substances you’re sensitive to can help identify seasonal allergies like hay fever as well as year-round ones such as dust mites, pet dander and mold spores.
Quick-relief medicines are used to quickly relieve sudden symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath. Taken as needed at the first sign of symptoms, such medicines could include one or more medicines.
Controller medicines help reduce inflammation in the airways and mucus production, and should be taken daily in pill, liquid or melting tablet form. LABAs and LAMAs are some of the most frequently used controller medicines.
Antihistamines, the go-to allergy remedies, block histamine, an allergy trigger that comes in pill or liquid form and are available as treatments for eye and nose allergies. Nasal corticosteroids reduce swelling in nasal passages with spray. And injectable asthma treatments called biologics target specific inflammatory mechanisms to stop airway swelling through shots at doctor offices or via an auto-injector device at home.
Prevention
Due to hereditary factors, allergy-related asthma is often an inherited condition; however, there are steps that can help mitigate symptoms and enhance quality of life. These measures include taking long-acting control medications (bronchodilators and steroids) on an ongoing basis; identifying and avoiding triggers (dust mites, animal fur/feathers/cockroach allergens/molds); getting regular flu/pneumonia vaccinations; as well as maintaining normal body weight.
Allergens can be found anywhere, and inhaling them can trigger or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Common allergen triggers include pet dander (dried skin flakes), cockroach allergens, mold spores, dust mite allergens and strong chemicals like perfume; while certain people may also be sensitive to cold air, exercise, viral respiratory infections and stress.
Avoiding triggers of asthma exacerbations can be challenging, but keeping a diary can help identify your individual triggers and how best to overcome them. Other strategies for avoiding asthma exacerbations include always taking quick-relief medications as prescribed, monitoring peak expiratory flow rate and keeping humidity below 50%; getting annual flu shots and pneumococcal vaccinations is recommended as protection from tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough.
Some individuals with allergy-related asthma have found relief through immunotherapy, a practice involving repeated exposure of allergens in order to desensitize the immune system and lower sensitivity. Speak to your physician to discuss whether immunotherapy could be right for you.
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