Allergens such as pet dander, mold spores, dust mites and pollen can trigger asthma symptoms in some individuals. They may also be brought on by factors like exercise, air pollution, sneezing and certain medications – not to mention strong odors!
Allergic symptoms are reduced through managing allergens effectively, including avoiding triggers, taking medication to manage symptoms, and receiving immunotherapy (allergy shots) to increase tolerance over time.
Symptoms
When we breathe allergens like dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, tree pollen or cockroach waste our immune systems recognizes them as threats and starts a series of responses aimed at eliminating them – these include the release of chemicals like histamine which cause our nasal passages, sinuses and airways in the lungs to swell with extra mucus to flush away allergens that have invaded them – often manifested as symptoms such as runny nose sneezing and itchy eyes.
Chronic inflammation caused by histamine and other inflammatory mediators may eventually cause irreparable changes to the structure and function of airways, making them less flexible and narrower over time. This makes breathing harder while increasing risk.
Other than allergens, other things may also trigger asthma symptoms in some individuals. These include air pollution, aerosol cleaning products, tobacco smoke and cold air; as well as environmental and food allergens like milk, eggs, wheat, shellfish, peanuts or soy products which cause skin and food allergies and skin reactions in some people; skin or food allergies caused by milk eggs wheat shellfish peanuts soy products; virus/bacteria infections exercise emotional stressors or certain medicines which could also aggravate symptoms of asthma in susceptible people.
Certain people suffer from non-allergic asthma, which does not involve allergies. It typically appears later in life and can be triggered by things like tobacco smoke, cold air or medications.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing allergic asthma requires a comprehensive medical history review, physical exam and lung function tests. Healthcare providers will ask about symptoms that occur at specific times as well as family allergies that could aggravate or worsen asthma symptoms. They may also ask if there has been any history of hay fever, skin rashes or any other conditions which might trigger or worsen asthma symptoms.
Allergy testing, such as skin prick and blood allergy tests, can help determine whether or not certain substances trigger asthma symptoms in you. These tests involve applying small amounts of allergens like pet dander or pollen on either arm or back and then pricking with special devices to see if your body reacts by swelling up or forming a welt. Blood tests that measure specific IgE antibodies can also identify allergic triggers.
Your doctor will conduct a complete medical history and perform an in-depth lung exam during which they will listen to both of your lungs, as well as review any symptoms that arise during breathing. Lung function tests such as spirometry or fractional exhaled nitrous oxide (FeNO), and imaging tests such as chest X-rays or ultrasound may be recommended during this exam.
Based on your test results, you and your healthcare provider will work to identify which allergens are triggering your asthma, and devise plans to avoid or manage those allergens. Antihistamines may help by inhibiting histamine production; alternatively allergen immunotherapy could provide long-term benefits by gradually building tolerance to specific allergens through repeated injections.
Treatment
No cure exists for allergic asthma, but treatment options can help control symptoms and keep flare-ups under control. To do this, avoid allergen triggers, like pollen, pet dander and mold; additionally keeping your house clean with an air filter in operation may also prove effective.
Healthcare professionals can conduct allergy tests to help determine which allergens are triggering your symptoms. Many people with allergies also have asthma, so pinpointing what triggers an allergic response is of crucial importance. There are various medicines that can treat both allergy and asthma; antihistamines (Astepro) and cetirizine pills (Zyrtec) can reduce allergy symptoms by blocking histamines; corticosteroids like prednisone or budesonide can reduce inflammation in the lungs by decreasing airway swelling or mucus production while leukotriene modifiers (Singulair) help prevent attacks by inhibiting production of inflammatory chemicals within your body.
If your symptoms persist despite taking long-term control medications, your healthcare provider may prescribe biologic treatments. Omalizumab (Zynair) and meopolizumab (Oracorta) work by targeting eosinophils, the cells responsible for asthma triggers. Both are given as injections and typically taken alongside daily controller medications to keep symptoms at bay. As asthma symptoms can strike at unexpected times so it’s wise to establish an action plan with your healthcare provider that outlines when and how often to take medications as well as how best to recognize an attack when possible.
Prevention
Allergens can be powerful asthma triggers. By identifying and avoiding allergens, symptoms can be reduced drastically, making life easier to live. People living with allergic asthma can prevent attacks by working closely with their healthcare provider to create an asthma treatment plan, including long-term control medication and quick relief medicine to use in case of flare ups.
Allergy blood tests can assist health care providers in diagnosing allergies and assessing asthma attacks more accurately. Results of an allergy blood test should be combined with medical history review and physical exam for an accurate diagnosis.
Indoor allergens – dust mites, pet dander and mold spores – are one of the leading causes of asthma attacks, but they can be avoided through regular washing of bedding and stuffed animals, using air conditioning with windows closed, eliminating dampness in the home by sealing cracks and adding insulation, as well as receiving routine flu and pneumonia vaccinations that could prevent serious infections that trigger asthma symptoms in some people.
Exercise, cold air, gastroesophageal reflux disease and stress can also trigger asthmatic symptoms in some individuals. To combat non-allergy triggers effectively, individuals can try avoiding their specific irritants such as practicing relaxation techniques or regular exercise; changing sleeping patterns to reduce exposure to allergens in the bedroom; or cleaning frequently using damp cloths.
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