Allergic asthma is caused by exposure to allergens like dust mites, pet dander, pollen and mold spores; when your immune system reacts by inflaming and narrowing your airways, breathing difficulties become an issue.
Your doctor will conduct tests to help identify whether allergic asthma is responsible for your symptoms, including lung function tests and allergy testing using skin prick or blood tests.
Symptoms
Allergic asthma symptoms typically include coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Sometimes these can be mild; other times severe enough to threaten life. An allergy occurs when someone breathes something they’re allergic to such as pollen, animal dander or mold spores and their immune system overreacts by inflaming and swelling up their airways causing inflammation and congestion.
Allergic asthma remains poorly understood, though its cause tends to run in families. People with a history of allergies or hay fever are at greater risk for allergic asthma development; exposure to tobacco smoke, respiratory infections and air pollution also increases one’s likelihood of developing allergic asthma.
Allergy testing by a board-certified allergist can provide invaluable insight into what allergens trigger asthmatic symptoms. Testing should include both seasonal pollen (tree, weed and grass pollen) as well as year-round allergens such as dust mites, animal dander and mold spores.
One can identify their personal allergic triggers by keeping track of when their symptoms appear. If symptoms typically arise at home, then this could indicate something in the home is to blame, while outdoor allergies might be to tree, weed or ragweed pollen present during specific times of year.
Diagnosis
An individual with allergic asthma suffers from an overreactive immune system which causes their airways to become inflamed and swell, restricting airflow and making breathing difficult. Common symptoms of allergic asthma are wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath which may become severe during an asthma attack and even be life threatening.
Healthcare professionals begin diagnosing allergy-related asthma by gathering information about symptoms and family history of allergies or breathing issues, then performing a physical exam in which a stethoscope will be used to listen and watch for breathing changes; further lung function tests such as spirometry or fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) analysis will likely follow.
Skin prick tests can be an effective way of identifying allergens that trigger allergic asthma. This technique involves applying several drops of allergens onto either your forearm or back and looking out for signs of an allergic reaction such as red or discolored patches of skin or hives. A blood test can also be used to ascertain whether someone is allergic to certain substances like pollen, pet dander and dust mites.
Once a person understands what triggers their allergic asthma, they can work with their health care provider to develop an asthma action plan and treatment regimen tailored specifically for their condition. Typical treatments may include inhalers with quick-relief medicines that can be taken using inhalers and nebulizers as well as measures taken to manage environment and lifestyle issues that contribute to symptoms.
Treatment
Though there’s no cure for allergic asthma, medical treatment can reduce symptoms and help prevent attacks. There are both short-acting medication that help you breathe easier when symptoms flare up quickly as well as long-term control medications to manage asthma on an ongoing basis.
Doctors can conduct skin tests to detect allergens that trigger asthma, then administer immunotherapy injections to gradually lessen your immune system’s reaction over time. Allergy shots usually begin with small doses of an allergen which triggers asthma before gradually increasing over several months; you typically take injections once weekly at first before decreasing to once monthly for three to five years.
Tiotropium bromide (Spiriva Respimat), an anticholinergic, may help relax airways and decrease inflammation. If you suffer from both allergies and asthma, leukotriene modifiers like Xolair may also ease symptoms by decreasing IgE levels.
Maintaining contact with your healthcare provider and tracking symptom and treatment progress are of vital importance. If your allergy medications don’t seem to be working or an asthma attack arises, seek medical advice immediately. Signs indicating serious symptoms that require prompt medical care include inability to speak or walk normally, blue lips and fingers, wheezing difficulty breathing chest tightness shortness of breath fast heart rate as well as severe facial disfigurement or discoloration.
Prevention
Understanding and avoiding allergy triggers are the keys to successfully managing asthma symptoms, including pet dander, grass pollen, dust mites, mold spores and certain foods. Long-term control medications as well as quick relief medication during an asthma attack may help prevent flare-ups; and working with healthcare professionals on developing an asthma action plan is another effective strategy for controlling asthma symptoms and minimizing exposure.
Allergy immunotherapy can also be an effective means of managing allergic asthma. Immunotherapy works by giving individuals small doses of allergen over time in order to desensitize them to it and cause less symptoms – eventually leading them to reduce dependence on medications or even stop using them altogether.
Other ways to decrease allergen levels at home include limiting exposure to wood-burning stoves and fireplace smoke and cooking in well-ventilated environments with doors and windows open during meals. Asthmatics whose asthma is triggered by mould spores should consider regularly cleaning with diluted bleach solution to reduce their presence in the air, and consulting a healthcare professional on air filters and humidifiers that may improve indoor air quality. Healthcare professionals may recommend that their patients avoid outdoor activities during peak pollen and mold spore seasons. Furthermore, an Epi pen may help swiftly alleviate symptoms and protect from an asthma attack that could otherwise threaten life itself.
Comments are closed