Allergic asthma is one of the most prevalent forms of asthma. This form occurs when allergens like pollen, pet dander or mold spores trigger an immune reaction and lead to asthmatic symptoms.
Your allergist may suggest allergy immunotherapy as a preventive treatment that will make you less sensitive to allergens in the environment. Your physician may prescribe antihistamines and steroids.
Symptoms
If you suffer from allergic asthma, the passages in your lungs become hypersensitive to harmless substances known as allergens. When exposed to allergens, your immune system reacts by sending chemicals that tighten these passages and increase mucus production – often resulting in symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath during allergy season.
Allergies may also be caused by other things, including tobacco smoke, fumes, perfumes, exercise, viral infections and changes in weather. Furthermore, those suffering from allergies often have food sensitivities which can aggravate symptoms associated with asthma attacks.
Wheezing, which can be heard when breathing out, is one of the hallmarks of allergic asthma, often detected with medical devices such as stethoscopes. People living with allergic asthma also often report chest tightness – feeling like something is pushing against your chest muscles – which is another telltale symptom of this condition.
If you notice these symptoms, consult a physician to identify whether you have allergic asthma. Your physician may suggest allergy immunotherapy which helps your body become used to allergens so it won’t react as strongly when exposed. Your physician might also suggest avoiding allergens known to trigger asthma attacks and taking medications like inhalers to control symptoms. In order to accurately pinpoint which allergens are triggering your symptoms they will perform a skin prick test or blood test and ask about lifestyle details like food consumption as part of the diagnostic process.
Diagnosis
If you or your child are experiencing wheezing, chest tightness, or difficulty breathing, visit a physician immediately. He/she will evaluate your symptoms, perform a physical examination, take an in-depth medical history history review, and conduct lung function tests.
Allergic asthma causes inflammation (swelling up and narrowing of airways) as a result of immune system proteins called antibodies binding to allergens such as pet dander, pollen or mold; once connected, these proteins then release chemicals which tighten airways further and produce additional mucus production – symptoms which may be brought on either by inhaling allergens themselves or another event which sets off your immune system like physical activity or viral infections.
Other indicators of allergic asthma may include an uncontrollable cough, sneezing episodes or itchy eyes and skin. A quick-relief medicine may be needed to manage these symptoms effectively.
Healthcare professionals may use a device known as a spirometer to conduct a lung function test and assess your lung’s functioning, while also checking for other conditions which can produce similar symptoms, like heart disease and diabetes. Provocation tests involve inhaling allergens to see how you react – this helps confirm diagnosis while ruling out other diseases; additional tests include blood and skin allergy testing as well as serum specific IgE allergy testing, fractional exhaled nitric oxide or FeNO test, methacholine challenge test etc.
Treatment
Allergy asthma can be a lifelong condition, but by working closely with a healthcare provider to manage symptoms effectively. There are various medication options available and it’s essential that you find one that works for you personally.
As soon as an allergen such as pet dander, mold, or pollen enters our bodies, their immune systems produce antibodies which cause airways to swell up and narrow. This makes breathing difficult, often leading to wheezing and coughing as symptoms of an outbreak appear. There is an array of treatments for asthma available, from medications that reduce inflammation and airway swelling to those that open airways, like inhaled steroids or bronchodilators (including albuterol). Newer medications targeting specific aspects of the immune system involved with allergic asthma, such as leukotriene modifiers or mast cell stabilizers, may help. Oral administration of such treatments may help alleviate symptoms over time. Another possible strategy involves immunotherapy treatments: small injections of allergens over time to decrease allergy and asthma symptoms.
Additional treatments to combat asthma attacks include nasal sprays that don’t make you sleepy, saline rinses and antihistamines to alleviate itching, watery eyes and runny nose symptoms. Doctors may prescribe Xolair – which reduces allergy and asthma symptoms by restricting IgE in your blood – while medications like Tiotropium bromide or mepolizumab (Nucala) limit interleukin-5 production which contributes to inflammation that leads to asthma attacks.
Prevention
Asthmatic asthma cannot be cured, but medical treatments may help manage symptoms and stop worsening. The first step should be identifying your allergy triggers and devising strategies to avoid them. As part of your plan to manage pollen exposure, hiring someone to cut your grass may help, staying indoors during peak pollen times, regularly washing stuffed animals and sheets as well as using a dehumidifier may all help. Reducing secondhand smoke exposure and maintaining a cleaner home environment by using allergen-proof pillows, mattresses and quilts are also helpful measures to minimizing asthmatic attacks. Sulfite-containing foods and drinks that may aggravate symptoms is another key step, while certain medications (aspirin or beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors) could worsen asthmatic reactions in certain people.
Your doctor will prescribe medicine to manage the symptoms of asthma, and may suggest allergy shots if your allergies are severe. Most asthma control medication comes in pill form while quick-relief medicines may need to be inhaled into the lungs with an inhaler or given nasally in nasal spray form or through nasal rinse. Some doctors even use special injections called biologics to address both allergies and asthma simultaneously.
Regular physical activity is beneficial to overall health; however, before embarking on any new fitness regime it’s a good idea to consult your physician first to make sure it won’t strain the lungs too much. According to WHO recommendations all adults and children should engage in at least 10 to 15 minutes of moderate physical activity each day such as walking, swimming, cycling, dancing or using a treadmill.
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