Allergic asthma is a disease affecting people of all ages. Its symptoms can make breathing difficult, and be further worsened by triggers like viral respiratory infections or environmental dust particles.
Medication can provide the solution to managing allergic asthma, including bronchodilators and corticosteroids that help reduce inflammation in the airways and prevent asthma attacks.
Symptoms
If you suffer from allergic asthma, symptoms may be brought on by exposure to allergens such as dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, tree pollen, grass pollen or ragweed pollen. Your immune system overreacts by producing an allergic response which causes inflammation in the airways which restricts them further and causes coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath – not forgetting any buildup of mucus that makes breathing harder!
Untreated asthma can result in life-threatening attacks where all airways become blocked and no oxygen enters your lungs. It is imperative that any serious asthma attack be treated quickly by seeking medical assistance immediately; other symptoms of allergic asthma include frequent coughing at night, difficulty breathing, tight chest discomfort and wheezing.
As many people suffer from both allergies and asthma, keeping a diary can be invaluable in understanding which triggers are responsible for flare-ups of symptoms. You should then discuss with your physician to develop the most suitable treatment plan; with proper care and medication compliance you will lead a normal life and feel better!
Diagnosis
People suffering from allergies and asthma frequently exhibit symptoms like coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath due to an overreaction of their immune systems when exposed to allergens like pet dander, mold spores and pollen.
Allergens can be found anywhere: indoor and outdoor environments and in the air that we breathe. When your immune system recognizes an allergen, it produces chemicals called histamine that cause the nasal and lung linings to swell and tighten; histamine can also cause symptoms like runny nose and sneezing.
Healthcare professionals can assess allergic asthma by examining you and listening to your breathing using a stethoscope, asking about family history of asthma and allergies and performing a provocation test – inhaling an asthma trigger while conducting a breathing test to measure how your lungs respond.
Blood and skin tests are used to help identify allergy triggers; however, these may not always work due to lung responses to other substances in addition to allergens. An allergist who treats your allergies can provide injections or tablets which make the immune system less sensitive to allergens that aggravate asthma symptoms; these forms of treatment are called immunotherapy; there are also sublingual tablets available which dissolve under your tongue for easier administration.
Treatment
People living with allergic asthma can often effectively manage their symptoms by avoiding things that trigger them, such as staying indoors when pollen counts are high, not taking walks in parks or outdoor spaces where there are lots of plants, and cleaning regularly to remove dust mites, mold and pet dander – all common allergens.
People living with allergic asthma may use medications to manage their symptoms. Rescue inhalers may help manage acute attacks; anti-inflammatory medicines reduce airway inflammation and swelling as well as mucus production, making breathing easier; such medications include inhaled steroids, oral corticosteroids and leukotriene modifiers such as montelukast (Singulair).
Antihistamines, cromolyn (Asthma-Cromolyn), and nasal spray steroid/antihistamines such as Azelastine/Fluticasone can all help alleviate symptoms associated with allergies such as runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, congestion, watery eyes and sinus pressure. Both over-the-counter and prescription treatments for allergic asthmatics are available to reduce runny noses, itchy eyes, sneezing, congestion watery eyes and sinus pressure. Additionally, allergy shots (allergen immunotherapy) can help lessen immune reactions associated with certain allergens – gradually desensitizing your immune system over time – helping your symptoms over time.
Biologic medications like Dupixent, Xolair, Fasenra and Nucala work by blocking certain cells, pathways and proteins responsible for inflammation within your body to provide long-term asthma control. They’re usually prescribed as add-on therapy alongside daily controller medications – meaning you take both at the same time.
Prevention
No cure exists for allergic asthma, but medication can help manage symptoms and airway inflammation. An effective treatment plan often includes daily medication taken at regular intervals as well as quick-relief drugs used as needed when symptoms occur, lifestyle modifications, and changes to routines that support them.
Avoid allergens. Allergens are substances that cause allergic reactions in people, such as wheezing and tightness in the chest. Common allergens include dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, chemicals and pollen – often airborne – that travel long distances; pollen from trees, grasses and weeds is often the culprit here, with different times throughout the year peaking with peak seasons for pollen levels; food and medicine may also contain allergens; examples being sulfites present in wines/beers as well as Ace inhibitors in some high blood pressure medications that contain them ace inhibitors which activate immune systems as opposed to neutralize them against them triggering allergic responses such as wheezing or tightness in chest tightening sensations in response to them ace inhibitors in medicines contain by an immune response mechanism known as an immune response that activates an immune response from which then protect against allergy attacks.
Cleaning the nasal passages regularly with saline solution (found in Neti pots or squeeze bottles) may help relieve some symptoms for some people. Other strategies may include not smoking or being around smoke, maintaining a clean home environment and using air filters; avoiding outdoor activities during peak pollen season is another effective tactic, while wearing masks to block pollen, mould spores and allergens could be beneficial as well.
If your symptoms are severe or out-of-control, a doctor may prescribe quick relief medicine like albuterol (a bronchodilator). Steroid medication called leukotriene modifiers may also help block production of chemicals that narrow airways; and an anaphylaxis kit with Epinephrine for treating life-threatening allergic reactions may also be prescribed as emergency measures.
Comments are closed