Allergic asthma can be caused by allergens like pet dander, dust mites, pollen, mold or certain foods that trigger your immune system proteins known as antibodies to overreact. Once this happens, your body releases chemicals which result in symptoms like runny nose and itchy eyes or skin.
Engaging the help of healthcare professionals can assist in identifying triggers and developing plans to mitigate or manage them, ultimately increasing quality of life while decreasing risks of severe asthma attacks.
Symptoms
Allergic asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and constriction in response to exposure to allergens, leading to wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath as symptoms of an asthma attack. Uncontrolled attacks of asthma can even be life-threatening.
People suffering from allergies such as hay fever and eczema are more prone to allergic asthma, while individuals who have an established family history of it are also likely to develop it themselves. Additional risk factors for allergic asthma may include air pollution, cigarette smoking, respiratory infections, exercise, extreme emotions and hormonal shifts that increase its likelihood.
Doctors use several strategies to diagnose allergic asthma in their patients. First, they ask questions regarding health and symptoms before administering tests that detect possible allergies; these tests include the skin prick test which injects small amounts of an allergen under the skin to see how your body responds; if your antibodies release chemicals that trigger itching symptoms this could indicate your body reacting against an allergen and should prick test will detect whether you do or don’t suffer from allergies.
Some allergists offer allergy immunotherapy, which works by gradually training your body to tolerate specific allergens over time. Treatment typically comes in the form of allergy shots or tablets that dissolve under your tongue; completion may take anywhere between 3 to 5 years.
Diagnosis
As soon as a person with allergic asthma encounters an allergen, their immune system responds in order to defend the body, setting off a chain reaction of inflammation in their airways and narrowing of airflow resulting in difficulty breathing – wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath may occur during an attack requiring medical assistance immediately. Severe cases require emergency treatment immediately.
Step one in getting diagnosed is speaking to your physician about your symptoms. They’ll want to know for how long, what they feel like and when they occur; plus they’ll ask about family history and lifestyle habits.
Blood tests for allergies can help your doctor assess what substances cause allergic reactions in you. The tests measure certain antibodies present in your bloodstream such as eosinophils [EE-oh-sin-FILLZ], to identify potential triggers and potentially help identify allergy triggers more accurately than skin testing alone. Some individuals may benefit more from allergen blood testing over skin testing altogether.
Physical exams should also be done to determine any other conditions that could be contributing to your symptoms. Your healthcare provider will use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs, perform lung function tests such as spirometry and fractional exhaled nitrous oxide testing, as well as order blood tests to detect increased levels of eosinophils – an indicator of severe asthma – which are then used as part of creating a treatment plan.
Treatment
Asthma attacks cause your airways to narrow and swell, making breathing hard. Antibiotics, corticosteroids and leukotriene modifiers help reduce inflammation to improve symptoms and make breathing easier.
Your doctor will begin by gathering details on your symptoms and history before performing tests such as breathing tests or skin examination to pinpoint what triggered them and suggest treatment plans accordingly.
Treatment for allergic asthma typically includes two medications – one to treat allergies and another for asthma – but your doctor may also suggest lifestyle modifications, such as keeping windows and doors shut when pollen counts are highest, using a humidifier or running an air purifier in your house, and limiting outdoor activities when pollution levels are at their peak.
If allergy medications don’t alleviate your symptoms, your doctor may suggest allergen immunotherapy – this involves receiving regular shots to build up tolerance over time.
If you suffer from severe and treatment-refractory allergic asthma, your physician may suggest oral steroids or leukotriene modifiers like Montelukast (Singulair(r)). New injectable biologics have also shown promising results at altering how your immune system reacts to allergens reducing symptoms; however these therapies remain experimental and not available universally yet. Your physician will need to closely monitor you while taking these medicines; dose adjustments may need to be adjusted depending on symptoms experienced.
Prevention
Though there’s no cure for asthma, proper treatment and avoidance of triggers can significantly reduce its symptoms. This includes taking long-term control medications as prescribed, avoiding allergy triggers and using quick-relief medicines during attacks. Recording the times, days or activities where your symptoms arise is useful in helping both you and your doctor identify patterns – for instance when they arise after exercise, eating certain foods or at specific times in the year. Although the exact causes are still not fully understood, genes and environmental factors likely play a part.
People with allergies may develop asthma when allergens such as pet dander (dried skin flakes), mold spores, dust mites, cockroach feces, food additives (like sulfites) and strong soaps or perfumes enter their bodies and trigger airway inflammation. Other potential asthma triggers may include changes in weather (particularly warm, humid days), cold air temperatures, tobacco smoke exposure or infections such as the common cold or flu.
People suffering from allergic asthma should use antihistamines when their symptoms are triggered by allergies. Avoiding animal fur and feathers as well as washing bedding in hot water to kill household pests will also help. Maintaining low humidity levels within the house, using allergen-proof mattress covers, vacuuming regularly, using allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers and using anti-pollen masks while outdoors will all reduce exposure to allergens and decrease symptoms associated with them. Patients sensitive to pollen can minimize symptoms by staying indoors when pollen counts are high while using masks while outdoors if necessary.
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