Allergic asthma is a condition in which symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing are brought on by allergies to dust mites, pet dander, mold and pollen – allergens which trigger an overreaction by your immune system and lead to inflammation and narrowing of airways.
There are numerous medicines to help control allergic asthma, including inhaled steroids that reduce inflammation and bronchodilators that open airways, nasal allergy sprays, antihistamines and saline rinses as possible treatments.
Symptoms
If you experience dry coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing, allergic asthma could be to blame. This condition affects 26 million Americans and has the potential to be fatal if left untreated. Allergens such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander and mold may trigger its symptoms as well as cold air exposure during exercise or viral respiratory infection being triggers for this disorder.
Asthma attacks or flare-ups are periodic episodes of breathlessness caused by allergic asthma that result from overreacting of your immune system to specific environmental allergens that misidentify as threats; your immune system misperceives this threat as being harmful, leading to inflammation and narrowing of airways.
Your allergist will ask about your medical history and family history of allergies and asthma before conducting an exam and lung function tests. They may also conduct skin or blood tests to identify specific allergens triggering allergic asthma; seasonal allergies (grasses, weeds and trees), year-round allergens like animal dander dust mites mold may all play a part. Allergists also test for irritants such as smoke chemical fumes strong odors weather conditions as potential triggers.
Diagnosis
Allergy blood tests can be an essential tool to diagnosing allergic asthma. These tests check for high levels of antibodies against specific allergens like dust mites, pollen, pet dander and molds.
When someone is exposed to mold or pollen allergens, their immune system proteins called antibodies bind with it, initiating a chemical response which results in symptoms associated with allergic asthma such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Prolonged exposure to allergens can even cause permanent changes to their airways including narrowing of bronchial tubes and thickening of lung lining linings causing permanent airway changes such as narrowing.
Skin prick tests may be performed to detect allergies. A small amount of the allergen will be injected subcutaneously under the skin on either arm or back; then after 15 minutes a doctor will observe for signs such as redness or discoloration, swelling, and itching in that area.
Provocation tests can help identify allergy-related asthma, by breathing in allergens that could be contributing to symptoms. Your doctor will ask about any family histories of allergies or respiratory conditions such as eczema (atopic dermatitis). Follow-up visits with your physician are crucial in managing asthma effectively – review of symptom diary entries will be reviewed, along with ways of mitigating exposure such as keeping house clean, hiring someone to cut grass, installing air filters in home and using immunotherapy – training your body over time to tolerate allergens over time.
Treatment
Allergens like pollen, pet dander and mold spores can trigger asthma attacks that leave you struggling to breath. While there is no known cure for asthma, treatment options exist that can manage symptoms and help to prevent attacks.
Quick-relief medicines, commonly referred to as bronchodilators [brahn-ko-DIE-ah-laytor], help quickly relieve sudden symptoms by opening the airways and making breathing easier. These include short-acting inhalers as well as long-acting ones that can be taken on a regular or as needed basis.
Controller medicines designed to reduce swelling and excess mucus build-up in the airways are usually taken daily in pill, tablet, solution and syrup form. Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs), which may serve as alternatives to bronchodilators; as well as Theophylline in tablet, solution and syrup forms, may all help with airway health.
Anti-inflammatory medicines that reduce inflammation in the lungs may also be included as part of a controller medicine regimen, including steroids and leukotriene modifiers such as montelukast (Singulair(r)).
Immunotherapy may be an effective form of allergy treatment for some allergy sufferers. Immunotherapy involves gradually increasing doses of allergen over time to allow your body to adjust and minimize or eliminate reactions to it. Allergen immunotherapy comes both as injections and tablets that dissolve under your tongue (sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT). Allergy immunotherapy may be useful for people allergic to pollen, pets, dust mold foods bee stings cockroaches.
Prevention
Although there is no cure for asthma, preventive measures may help manage symptoms effectively. These measures include taking prescribed medication as directed and avoiding allergens that trigger your condition as well as exercising regularly. It’s also vitally important that vaccinations, such as flu and pneumonia vaccinations are up-to-date.
Allergens can trigger allergic asthma when the immune system overreacts, resulting in inflammation and constriction of airways. While its exact causes remain unknown, genetics and environmental factors appear to play an integral part in its occurrence; individuals with family histories of allergies or asthma are more likely to develop it themselves while chronic respiratory infections may also increase this risk.
Unfortunately, not everyone wants to become an actor! For these individuals who do wish to act out their dreams as actors – perhaps by running away or getting killed off stage? – the possibility of success remains. Allergic Asthma symptoms can be managed effectively with medications such as quick-relief inhalers that quickly relieve bronchoconstriction and wheezing during an attack; control agents that reduce inflammation response; and immunotherapy which trains your body to tolerate allergens over time. Work closely with your physician to identify and avoid triggers, create an action plan, and regularly follow-up on it if you suffer from asthma. By doing so, people with the condition can lead full and active lives unhindered by its limitations. Uncontrolled asthma can cause fatigue and frequent, unscheduled medical visits that interfere with work, school and social activities, including fatigue and frequent unscheduled medical appointments; as well as severe asthma attacks requiring hospitalization which contribute to morbidity and mortality in both children and adults.
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