Allergic asthma is caused by exposure to allergens like pollen from trees, grass and flowers; pet dander; mold spores or certain foods that set off an immune response that leads to inflamed airways that become infected with inflammation and narrowing.
Asthmatic asthma can be treated effectively using medications (inhalers and oral steroids) and by avoiding triggers. You may also benefit from allergen immunotherapy, which entails allergy shots or tablets that dissolve under the tongue.
Symptoms
People suffering from allergic asthma typically have an immune system which overreacts to certain allergens, leading to inflammation and constriction of their airways, with symptoms including wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Triggers for these symptoms could include air pollution, cigarette smoke, cold air or gastroesophageal reflux disease – as well as exercise! Having a family history of allergies such as hay fever increases their chances of asthma development significantly; inhaling allergens could even cause severe reactions requiring emergency medical intervention.
Allergens are the body’s natural response to something that poses a threat or harms them. When someone inhales an allergen, their immune system responds by producing IgE antibodies to attack it; histamine then enters their system, leading to swelling and narrowing of airways as it attacks it directly.
One of the primary triggers that leads to asthma symptoms are mold spores, pollen from trees, grasses and weeds; animal dander (from domestic pets or wild animals); dust mites; chemicals in household cleaners and cockroach feces, saliva and body parts. Acknowledging and avoiding triggers will be essential in combatting allergic asthma symptoms. Recurring symptoms could be caused by outdoor allergens like trees, grasses and weeds or mold (often present in decaying vegetation), while seasonal triggers could include environmental pollutants like tobacco smoke or irritating gases found in aerosol cleaners or beverages with high amounts of sulphites; or strong odors.
Diagnosis
An allergic asthmatic’s airways become inflamed and narrowed as their immune system reacts to an allergen (like dust mites, pet dander or pollen) that triggers an immune response and narrowing of their airways, making breathing difficult while leading to other symptoms like runny nose, coughing and wheezing.
Healthcare professionals diagnose asthma by asking about symptoms and conducting a physical exam, using a stethoscope to listen to your lungs when you breathe in and out, listening for wheezing as this indicates the airways have become inflamed or tightened, as well as asking about frequency of symptoms occurrence and their impact on daily activities.
Other tests can assist in identifying asthma symptoms, including lung function tests (spirometry). For this test, participants blow forcefully into a machine that measures how quickly you exhale air. Healthcare professionals offer allergy testing which involves skin prick or blood tests to detect sensitivities to common allergens like pet dander, dust mites and pollen; such tests could identify an allergy that might be aggravating asthma symptoms or worsening current ones.
Treatment
Allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots) is an effective treatment for allergic asthma. By subcutaneously injecting small doses of allergens into your system at regular intervals over several months or years, immunotherapy helps the immune system stop overreacting and can significantly decrease symptoms, reduce medication needs and help avoid long-term complications like airway remodeling, eosinophilic esophagitis (inflammation of throat lining), sinusitis or nasal polyps.
Comprehensive treatment plans are developed using results of allergy tests, medical history review and physical exam. Medication used for allergic asthma includes inhaled steroids to reduce inflammation and bronchodilators to open airways; antihistamines can also be helpful for managing mild allergy symptoms or itching when combined with bronchodilators.
Leukotriene modifiers like montelukast (Singulair) can help better control asthma by restricting the activity of chemicals that trigger inflammation and narrowing of airways. Other medications, including omalizumab (Xolair) and meopolizumab, help decrease levels of eosinophils found in blood, which often contributes to allergies and asthma symptoms.
Asthma control requires avoiding triggers, using rescue inhalers as necessary and creating a written action plan with instructions if your symptoms don’t respond to medication and who to call in case of emergencies. Consult a board-certified allergist or asthma specialist for diagnosis and treatment advice.
Prevention
People can reduce symptoms by taking preventer medications as directed and learning how to identify and avoid allergy triggers. This may mean hiring someone to cut the grass when pollen counts are high or avoiding places with large concentrations of animal dander, using allergen-proof bedding, washing pillows and mattresses regularly in hot water and using high efficiency particulate air filters in heating and cooling units can also help.
An allergic asthma attack happens when the immune system becomes overactive, secreting chemicals into the body which cause airways to narrow and swell up, making breathing difficult for those affected. If severe, such an attack can even result in respiratory failure and low oxygen levels – or even death.
Those suffering from allergies such as hay fever should aim to avoid being outdoors when pollen or mold spore levels are at their peak, wearing protective gear such as masks when outdoors and using humidifiers indoors to minimize dust mites and mold spores.
Non-allergen triggers, like stress and exercise, can also have adverse effects on breathing and should be avoided whenever possible. Relaxation techniques and stress reduction strategies may be useful in mitigating symptoms and severity of asthma attacks; having an action plan including who to call should symptoms worsen can be invaluable for individuals living with asthma.
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