Allergic asthma is a respiratory condition caused by an overreaction in one’s immune system to allergens such as pollen, animal dander, dust mites and mold.
When people breathe in these substances, their immune systems respond by producing chemicals known as leukotrienes and cytokines which release inflammation-inducing leukotrienes and cytokines to cause swelling of their airways and narrow them.
Diagnosis
Diagnoseing asthma typically entails taking a medical history, conducting physical exams and running various tests. Your physician may use a stethoscope to listen for whistling sounds (which indicate airway obstruction).
If you experience symptoms like runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing, your doctor will want to understand if these reactions occur when exposed to certain allergens such as pet dander, pollen, mold spores or dust mites. He or she may also want to know whether these triggers disrupt daily activities and daily life.
Lung function tests such as spirometry are commonly used to help assess the severity of asthma and identify possible triggers, like allergies. They can be performed at your doctor’s clinic or lab without being painful; another method to diagnose asthma involves inhaling methacholine which narrows your airways slightly – if this causes your airways to narrow, this confirms asthma as a diagnosis.
Allergy testing can be accomplished via skin prick or blood tests to detect allergies to common allergens such as pet dander, pollen and mold spores. Most often performed by board-certified allergists who possess extensive training; their findings will provide recommendations such as allergy shots, oral antihistamines and possibly leukotriene inhibitors as treatment solutions.
Treatment
Allergic asthma attacks can be severe, leading to shortness of breath and wheezing that prevent people from working or engaging in their regular activities. They may also cause fatigue and alter sleep patterns. It is important for individuals with allergic asthma to work closely with their healthcare provider in order to create an action plan which addresses both allergies and asthma in order to keep symptoms under control.
Treatment options for allergic asthma can include medications, allergen avoidance and lifestyle modifications. Medication can provide both quick-relief and long-term control medicines. Short-acting inhalers provide quick relief by relaxing the muscles in the airways making breathing easier, while inhaled steroids reduce inflammation in the lungs; other medications (leukotriene modifiers) work to decrease airway swelling by blocking release of chemicals that promote allergic reactions; antihistamines and decongestants may help alleviate allergy symptoms like runny nose or itchy eyes.
Blood tests combined with medical history review and physical exam can be used to identify allergen triggers. Although allergy blood testing can identify some allergens, a certain percentage may still escape detection.
Some individuals may benefit from bronchial thermoplasty, an outpatient surgical procedure which involves heating the walls of airways to reduce inflammation caused by allergens. New injectable medicines known as biologics may also help people suffering from allergic asthma; these injectable medicines reduce eosinophil levels in blood which increase airway inflammation; examples include omalizumab, dupilumab, mepolizumab reslizumab and tezepelumab as potential medicines to use.
Prevention
Many people with allergies also have asthma, and the same allergens can aggravate both conditions. Allergic asthma occurs when airways become inflamed, narrowing lungs and making breathing harder than usual, often with symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or tightness in the chest. Allergic asthma is usually caused by allergens like pet dander, dust mites mold or pollen from trees grasses or weeds causing irritation as well as physical activity, respiratory infection or smoking tobacco smoke aggravation.
Though its cause remains elusive, allergic asthma often runs in families. It may also be related to other conditions like eczema (atopic dermatitis), hay fever and food allergies; or can occur as the result of viral or bacterial infection or certain medications taken as treatment.
Prevention includes limiting exposure to allergens as much as possible and using medications to manage symptoms when they do arise. Your doctor can offer advice and may suggest allergy testing, such as skin and blood tests, to identify what you are allergic to; antihistamines, bronchodilators or leukotriene modifiers (such as montelukast [Singulair(r)) are effective medications in controlling symptoms when needed, while immunotherapy or allergy shots may reduce sensitivity over time and further diminish both allergies and asthma over time.
Follow-up
Asthma is a chronic condition requiring long-term follow up care. Regular visits help increase adherence and strengthen patient-physician partnerships for optimal prognosis. Patients attending frequent and scheduled visits may receive proper education on an asthma action plan, proper inhaler usage and dosage changes as necessary, plus an opportunity to have their medications adjusted so that optimal efficacy can be reached.
An effective treatment plan includes allergy testing and recording symptoms to help your doctor assess how severe your asthma is. Your physician will also recommend daily controller medicines to prevent symptoms, along with reliever inhalers in case they do occur. In addition, biologics or allergy shots may also be recommended; additionally vaccines may help reduce risk.
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