Allergic asthma is often brought on by allergens like pollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander and certain foods. When exposed to such allergens, their immune systems overreact by inflaming their airways with extra mucus production.
Individuals suffering from allergic asthma require a treatment plan that includes both quick-relief medications, such as inhalers or nebulizers, as well as long-term control medicines such as steroids or bronchodilators, to provide quick-relief.
Symptoms
Allergies and asthma share similar symptoms, such as wheezing and difficulty breathing, but allergy-induced asthma differs because it is caused by inhaled allergens that trigger an overreaction from your immune system, leading to inflammation and swelling of airways in the lungs.
Allergens can be airborne or food-related and include animal dander (from fur or skin flakes), dust mites, mold and tree, grass or weed pollen; plus allergens found in milk products, shellfish, soy products or even cockroaches which may trigger asthma attacks.
An acute (flare-up) of asthma symptoms includes breathlessness, tightness in the chest or throat, wheezing and coughing. Severe asthma can be life-threatening and requires emergency treatments such as inhalers or steroids tablets to control its symptoms.
What causes allergic asthma is often unclear, though it often runs in families and more commonly affects those living with other autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and eczema. Other triggers for asthma may include viral respiratory infections, exercise, air pollution (such as smoke from wood fires or aerosol cleaning products) irritants in the air like smoke or aerosol cleaners), stress or certain drugs like aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
People living with allergic asthma typically carry a rescue inhaler for quick relief of symptoms. Longer-acting medication, like inhaled corticosteroids, are taken daily to reduce inflammation and improve breathing.
Diagnosis
If you suspect allergic asthma, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider immediately. They will ask about your symptoms and family history as well as conduct a physical exam, before ordering lung function tests like spirometry, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) testing or methacholine challenges to gauge lung health and rule out other illnesses that cause breathing issues. They may also order a blood test to check for allergy IgE antibodies produced in response to dust mites, pet dander, mold or pollen.
Other tests could include a sputum eosinophil count, which looks for cells released when coughing. Your doctor may also order a chest X-ray to see if your airways have become enlarged.
Your doctor will formulate a treatment plan tailored specifically to you that may include medications, avoiding triggers and tracking your symptoms. Some of these medicines include quick-relief inhalers to use during an attack as well as long-term control medications that work with the immune system to keep airways open. You should also monitor the environment for potential triggers like cigarette smoke, cold or dry air or chemical sprays which could trigger attacks; take measures to avoid these potential sources. People suffering from allergy-induced asthma have difficulty managing symptoms without medication; the condition can even become life threatening without proper management or treatment or management.
Treatment
People living with allergic asthma can lead a normal life with proper treatments, including medications (including inhalers and oral corticosteroids) allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots or tablets) and avoiding triggers.
Lung function tests such as spirometry can help evaluate how effectively your lungs are performing, while allergy testing such as skin prick and blood tests may provide information on specific allergens which might be contributing to symptoms.
Quick-acting asthma control medications, like inhalers, can rapidly open airways to treat symptoms during an asthma attack. Common examples include fluticasone (Flonase), budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler) and mometasone (Asmanex). Longer-term medications for long-term control may help reduce airway inflammation, prevent attacks and keep them under control through daily dosage of inhaled steroids (fluticasone, budesonide nebulizer), leukotriene modifiers or biologic treatments which help modify immune systems to effectively control asthma attacks.
Individuals suffering from allergic asthma frequently also have allergies to food, dust mites, pet dander and mold – these triggers can be avoided by identifying which allergens trigger their asthma and finding ways to limit contact with those allergens. Some seasonal allergy sufferers benefit from using daily controller medicine during allergy season as well as rescue inhalers during peak pollen times; additionally saline nose rinses may help cut down mucus production while simultaneously clearing away allergens from their noses.
Prevention
Allergic asthma can be prevented by limiting exposure to triggers, or substances which narrow and restrict breathing, such as animal dander (flakes of skin), dust mites, mold spores, pollen from trees grass and flowers, smoke fumes cold/flu symptoms certain antibiotics and foods containing sulfites. Long-term control medications like bronchodilators may help alleviate symptoms by reducing inflammation within airways as well as inhibiting release of chemicals that trigger allergic reactions.
Families that have allergies or asthma increase your risk for it themselves; children of one or both parents with allergy-related conditions such as eczema and rhinitis have a higher chance of developing asthma themselves.
If you suspect asthma, it’s essential that you visit a healthcare provider. An IgE allergy test can be administered to confirm diagnosis and identify allergen triggers; thereafter, your healthcare provider can create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
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