Allergic asthma develops when your immune system responds to inhaled substances known as allergens, such as pollen from trees, grasses and weeds; mold spores; dust mites; pet dander and the feces, saliva and body parts from cockroaches or rodents.
Allergies and asthma often co-occur, and the same substances that trigger allergic rhinitis (hay fever) may also exacerbate asthma symptoms.
Symptoms
Allergens can be inhaled or ingested to cause asthma symptoms in those who are allergic. Allergens are small particles recognized by the immune system as threats and released as chemicals to cause inflammation of airways and excess mucus production. Common allergens include mold spores (particularly in damp basement areas), tree, grass or weed pollen, animal dander from furry or feathered pets, dust mites which live on mattresses and pillows in humid climates, cockroach feces or saliva or food allergies such as peanut allergy.
As soon as allergens enter our bodies, their release triggers histamine production which causes swelling of nasal passages and sinuses while airways tighten up producing extra mucus production resulting in runny nose, itchy eyes or skin and sneezing as they attempt to expel allergens from our system.
People living with asthma typically report chest tightness, coughing and wheezing symptoms during times when their airways are inflamed and congested; and this explains why many asthmatics experience tiredness or fatigue and difficulty sleeping. Teenagers may be particularly affected by asthma as it affects school performance, emotional well-being and social life by restricting or making activities harder to do; regular doctor visits and needing an inhaler can cause them to feel different than their peers, leading them to experience feelings of embarrassment self-consciousness or frustration.
Diagnosis
If you suspect allergies and asthma, the first step should be seeing an allergist. He or she will ask about your symptoms, family history of allergy as well as other health issues such as eczema (a bumpy skin rash). Your physician will conduct a physical exam while listening to your breathing using a stethoscope; further lung testing options could include spirometry or methacholine challenge testing.
Allergy blood tests can help identify which allergens trigger your symptoms. They measure immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies against these allergens that bind to cells and release chemicals that swell and narrow airways while producing extra mucus, leading to symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing.
Triggers that affect your lungs, such as air pollution, strong odors, aerosol cleaning products and tobacco smoke can aggravate asthma symptoms. Your doctor can assess the severity of your symptoms in order to create an effective treatment plan – they will look at how often and severely they appear as well as whether quick-relief inhalers can provide immediate relief when needed. He/she will work together with you to treat both allergies and asthma effectively.
Treatment
Treating asthma includes both short-acting relief medications and long-term control medicines that may be taken by mouth or via inhaler (nebulizer). Your physician will create an asthma action plan to manage symptoms and decrease exposure to triggers.
Allergens like pollen, mold spores, house dust mites, pet dander and grasses can trigger allergic reactions in those living with asthma that make breathing difficult. Histamine-produced chemicals create tightness around airway muscles that force overproduction of mucus production while at the same time increasing tightness throughout. Such chemical can even contribute to airway inflammation.
Many people with allergies suffer from both seasonal and year-round allergens that cause both allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms. These allergies could be triggered by anything from air pollution, aerosol cleaning products, tobacco smoke, wood fires or strong odors – possibly all these sources are to blame!
Avoiding symptoms of allergic asthma is possible through taking allergy medicine and using quick-relief medicines as needed. People experiencing severe symptoms should contact 911 or go directly to an emergency room.
Allergy medicines such as antihistamines reduce histamine production, leading to itchy, watery eyes. Nasal corticosteroid sprays and saline nose rinse can also help decrease mucus build-up for easier breathing. Your doctor may prescribe asthma medicines like bronchodilators which relax muscle contractions in your airways to open them wider for easier clearing out of mucus and allergens from your airway system; long-term asthma medications like steroid pills or nebulizer treatments may help keep airways from becoming inflamed over time.
Prevention
No cure exists for asthma, but proper management can help people manage symptoms and avoid long-term complications. People living with asthma should create an Asthma Action Plan together with their physician in order to help control symptoms more efficiently. Furthermore, they should become familiar with their triggers such as air pollution (from factories or cars) or smoke in order to avoid these as much as possible.
Allergies and asthma frequently co-occur, and substances which trigger allergic rhinitis symptoms (pollen, dust mites, animal dander) such as pollen can also trigger asthma attacks – this phenomenon is known as allergy-induced asthma.
Doctors can diagnose allergy-induced asthma by reviewing a person’s medical history, conducting an exam and performing lung function tests. They may also perform allergy testing – skin prick or blood tests to identify which allergens trigger it; sometimes doctors will even perform provocation tests in which they expose someone to an allergen and measure their response to it.
Preventive measures for people living with allergic asthma may include avoiding allergens like pollen, dust mites, pet dander and mold; washing clothing in hot water on a weekly basis to eliminate allergens; using a vacuum cleaner equipped with an HEPA filter; and keeping humidity levels below 30% in bedrooms. Regular exercise and eating well can also help avoid an asthma attack.
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