Allergic asthma is a condition that makes breathing difficult, typically brought on by inhaling allergens like pet dander and pollen that are present everywhere around us.
Over time, chronic lung inflammation can result in permanent changes to airway structures. However, many treatments exist that can help individuals manage their symptoms and enhance quality of life.
Symptoms
Allergies can trigger asthma symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing and wheezing; more serious allergic reactions from pet dander or mold exposure can cause wheezing and difficulty breathing. When exposed to allergens like pet dander or mold inhaled by someone with allergic asthma, their immune system releases substances which inflame their airways and overproduce mucus production, tightening up their airway muscles causing bronchoconstriction – making breathing harder overall than nonallergic asthma sufferers. It can also be caused by physical activity, respiratory infections and cold air exposure among other triggers.
Symptoms of allergic asthma may include:
Breathing difficulty that begins suddenly after exposure to allergens may indicate allergic asthma; night-time symptoms could also indicate it, since lung function decreases naturally with sleep as part of our natural biological cycle.
Fatigue can be one of the symptoms of allergic asthma as breathing takes more effort when airways narrow, taking away energy that would otherwise go to daily activities such as sports. Some individuals can use a rescue inhaler – fast-acting medicines designed to quickly relieve flare-ups of symptoms – while other may need prescription drugs called inhaled steroids or leukotriene modifiers to reduce inflammation and prevent attacks.
Diagnosis
Asthma can be diagnosed by consulting with a health professional, typically either their primary care provider or allergist (an expert in treating allergies and asthma). A healthcare provider will interview an individual about their symptoms, when they occur, any changes or improvements, what seems to make things better or worse, what triggers flare-ups and any medical interventions such as lung function tests such as spirometry which measure how well their lungs work, etc.
Additional tests may include allergy testing via skin prick or blood sampling to ascertain whether seasonal or year-round allergies are responsible for asthma symptoms. Common allergens to test for include pollen, pet dander, dust mites and mold.
Once allergies and asthma have been identified, an appropriate treatment plan can be put together. This may include medications like inhalers to open airways faster and ease breathing difficulties; they can be used as needed or on an ongoing basis depending on severity of symptoms. Antihistamines may also help decrease any allergic responses that trigger asthma symptoms.
Individuals should take steps to minimize their allergy triggers as much as possible, whether this means hiring someone to cut the lawn if pollen is an issue, or keeping pets outside if animal dander is an issue. Healthcare providers can recommend immunotherapy treatment that involves receiving shots or tablets to build tolerance against allergens that cause symptoms.
Treatment
Though curing allergic asthma is impossible, treatment options exist that can improve breathing and increase quality of life. By managing triggers and taking quick-acting medication during an attack as soon as symptoms appear, and receiving ongoing medical advice regularly, serious complications can be avoided from developing.
Healthcare professionals specializing in treating allergies and asthma can identify allergens causing symptoms by asking individuals about their symptom history and conducting tests, including lung function tests and skin or blood allergy testing. Furthermore, allergy immunotherapy may reduce sensitivity to specific allergens while helping prevent asthma attacks.
Medication used to treat allergy-induced asthma includes quick-acting bronchodilators that relax muscle tension around the airways and allow them to open, such as short-acting beta agonists such as albuterol. Longer acting steroids such as inhaled corticosteroids like Fluticasone (Flonase), Budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler), or Mometasone (Asmanex) may also be prescribed.
Patients suffering from allergies and asthma should work with their physician to develop an asthma action plan, in order to take their medications on schedule and avoid allergens which aggravate symptoms. The plan can include a list of triggers as well as steps they can take to mitigate them – for instance hiring someone to cut grass if pollen is an issue, or investing in allergy-proof mattresses in cases of pet dander allergies. Others find limiting exposure to certain foods can ease symptoms too.
Prevention
Avoid or reduce exposure to allergens that trigger allergic asthma attacks as a primary way to manage it, such as pet dander, mold spores, tree, grass and weed pollen, dust mites and foods. Your healthcare provider can assist in helping identify which allergens cause symptoms in order to find ways to limit exposure; perhaps hiring someone else to cut your lawn during peak pollen times while wearing a mask outdoors might help; mold spores should also be removed from the home regularly while cleaning bedding/pillowcases frequently and foods that trigger allergic reactions should also be avoided altogether.
Individuals suffering from allergic asthma should work closely with healthcare providers to develop both a treatment and action plan for themselves and an asthma action plan. The plan should outline when to take medication, contact their physician in case of emergency and what to do in an emergency situation. It should also contain information on possible triggers and how to avoid future occurrence.
Planned medications could include inhaled asthma control medicine and quick-relief medicines used during an attack, including an inhaler or another device such as nebulizer to deliver them; oral tablets or liquids; as well as leukotriene modifiers like Montelukast (Singulair). Leukotriene modifiers could even be used to help prevent attacks in addition to managing symptoms.
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