Allergic asthma can be a life-threatening condition. To manage its symptoms, doctors can suggest both short-acting and long-term medications, in addition to giving advice about avoiding triggers and making lifestyle adjustments.
Asthma sufferers should identify allergens that trigger asthma symptoms and reduce exposure. Antihistamines, decongestants, and steroids can all help relieve allergy-induced symptoms; allergy immunotherapy – with allergy shots or sublingual tablets that dissolve under the tongue – reduces immune system hypersensitivity to specific allergens.
Symptoms
Allergic asthma symptoms are caused by inhaling allergens such as dust mites, pollen, pet dander and mold that trigger an overreaction from our immune systems. As a result, breathing passages tighten up and become inflamed while extra mucus is produced which thickens up airways further.
Wheezing (a squeaky sound heard while breathing), shortness of breath and chest tightness that feels as though something is pressing on it are all common symptoms of asthma, while fatigue may also be experienced as one symptom of severe allergic attacks that lead to reduced oxygen levels in blood and can potentially be life-threatening.
Inhalers provide fast relief during an attack by helping reduce inflammation and increasing airflow, while anti-inflammatory medication may be taken orally or via injection (allergy immunotherapy). A saline (saltwater) nose rinse can also reduce mucus production while flushing away allergens from your nose.
Food, chemicals and some medicines may all trigger asthma symptoms in some individuals. Common culprits include milk, shellfish, eggs and peanuts as well as chemicals like acetone ammonia isocyanates found in paints and cleaning products as well as wood smoke or strong odors; those suffering from skin conditions like eczema or psorias are more prone to develop allergic asthma while occupational asthma results from exposure to specific jobs such as flour milling grain handling or working with isocyanates such as flour milling or working with isocyanates.
Diagnosis
If an individual starts experiencing symptoms of allergic asthma, such as wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath, they should seek medical advice as soon as possible. A healthcare provider will ask them about their symptoms before conducting a physical examination and running some tests; such tests include lung function measurements called spirometry testing as well as allergy testing to rule out other possible illnesses that could also produce similar symptoms.
As part of a spirometry test, healthcare providers will have their patient blow into a machine which measures how much and how quickly air can be exhaled from their lungs. They will also want to know whether there is a family history of asthma or allergies and which allergens may trigger it; skin prick testing or blood testing may be used to identify sensitivities to such common allergens as dust mites, pet dander, mold and pollen.
Healthcare providers typically prescribe inhalers and nebulizers to manage symptoms. They will also discuss ways to limit exposure to triggers and avoid asthma flare-ups. Individuals with severe symptoms should keep emergency inhalers handy as these quick-acting medicines can quickly open the airways during an attack. They should work closely with their physician in tracking symptoms, recording possible triggers, and scheduling regular follow-up appointments so as to assess how effective their treatment plan is working.
Treatment
There are various treatments for allergic asthma. They include medications to reduce inflammation in the airways and interrupt allergy-induced asthma symptoms; others relieve coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath; still others relieve coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath. Most treatments require a valid valid valid valid prescription; quick relief medications may also be useful during flare ups of symptoms; long-term solutions include inhaled steroids or bronchodilators prescribed by your physician may help as well. Immunotherapy injections gradually expose people exposed to allergens over time until desensitization occurs over time – helping people avoid being affected by future flare ups of allergy.
An allergic asthma diagnosis cannot be cured, but proper treatments can help you manage and avoid serious complications, including an inability to breathe that requires emergency medical treatment. Therefore, it’s crucial that you adhere to your physician’s treatment plan and communicate any changes in symptoms with him or her immediately.
Most triggers of allergic asthma are irritants like dust mites, mold spores, animal dander (flakes of skin) and cockroaches; also pollen from trees, grasses and weeds; as well as ragweed; allergies can also exacerbate asthma symptoms. People experiencing pain often benefit from inhaled corticosteroids, an anti-inflammatory medicine administered via metered dose inhalers. Other quick-relief medications include nebulizers, which convert liquid medication into a fine mist for inhalation through the nose or mouth, and decongestant nasal sprays without producing drowsiness. Some individuals benefit from long-acting bronchodilators like fluticasone (Flonase), budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler) or mometasonide (Asmanex). Theophylline, another asthma controller available in pill form, also helps prevent swelling in the airways. Other medications to manage allergic asthma include long-acting muscarinic antagonists like tiotropium bromide (Spiriva Respimat) and cromolyn sodium (Nedocalm).
Prevention
Individuals suffering from asthma can minimize their symptoms and flare-ups by taking regular medication to protect the airways, reduce airway inflammation, and block allergen-triggering chemicals from being released into the environment. Such medicines include bronchodilators to open the lungs wider, anti-inflammatory medicines to decrease swelling in lung lining tissue and leukotriene modifiers to limit production of chemicals that trigger asthma attacks.
Individuals should strive to avoid allergens that exacerbate their symptoms, such as dust mites, pet dander and mold spores found throughout the home or outdoors when pollen counts are high. People allergic to such substances should stay inside during peak seasons while doing outdoor activities and wear a mask while doing them; bathe or shampoo after being exposed to outdoor allergens in order to minimize further exposure.
Anticipating and halting the development and progression of allergic asthma is the cornerstone of mitigating its consequences, and can be accomplished by recognizing and avoiding triggers, treating existing allergies and preventing further ones from emerging.
People living with allergic asthma should work closely with healthcare providers to create an asthma action plan. The plan should outline which long-term control medications must be taken regularly to avoid symptoms and flare-ups as well as which quick relief medicines may be taken as necessary during an attack. In addition, recommendations for mitigating environmental triggers, such as keeping their home tidy or using vacuums with HEPA filters should also be included in this document.
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