Many individuals with allergies also have asthma. Pollen, pet dander and mold allergies can trigger asthma symptoms or attacks in these people.
Asthma symptoms typically manifest themselves after inhaling allergens such as pet dander, dust and mold spores. People living with this form of asthma should work closely with their healthcare provider in developing an Asthma Action Plan to treat it effectively.
Diagnosis
First step to diagnosing allergic asthma: Speaking to a healthcare professional about symptoms. They may ask about when and why symptoms appear and what makes them better or worse. Healthcare providers may also inquire into your family history of allergies and asthma; those who inherit such conditions are more likely to develop them themselves.
Your doctor will conduct a physical exam, listening to your breathing with a stethoscope and gathering information about your home and work environments, including whether anyone in your family smokes. They may then perform lung function tests such as spirometry to measure how effectively your lungs are working and detect when airways narrow or block, which is often indicative of asthma. They may order blood tests to check inflammation as well as count how many eosinophils [EE-oh-sin-FILL-ihs]. Finally, they may measure exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO).
Your doctor may conduct skin prick tests to help identify which substances you’re sensitive to. In such tests, small amounts of allergens are applied directly onto the surface of your skin before being pricked with a sterile needle; if your reaction includes swelling or reddening in that area of skin contact, that substance could potentially be causing you problems.
Symptoms
Wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness are some of the symptoms associated with allergic asthma. An allergic reaction occurs when your immune system attacks normally harmless substances like pollen, animal dander or mold spores and initiates an overreaction that releases chemicals that inflame airways and make breathing difficult.
Allergens can be found both indoors and outdoors, often in both environments. While they are present year-round, they tend to increase during certain seasons as trees, grasses, weeds and pet pollen release pollen; pet dander; rodent/cockroach droppings/feces/ saliva can all trigger allergies; mold spores growing in damp or humid conditions are another potential trigger;
Asthmatics can benefit from keeping a symptom diary and avoiding known allergens to reduce both frequency and intensity of symptoms for allergy asthma, while healthcare providers can recommend medications such as rescue inhalers and antihistamines to manage allergy-induced asthma symptoms. They may also suggest immunotherapy treatment through allergy shots. For long-term control of allergies and asthma, healthcare professionals may suggest an asthma action plan which should be updated frequently to keep symptoms from worsening or exacerbating further.
Treatment
Good news is there are multiple strategies available for controlling asthma symptoms and avoiding attacks, even in severe cases. Working closely with healthcare providers to manage triggers is crucial – for instance, washing clothes and bedding regularly and limiting exposure to allergens like pet dander may help lower triggers.
Healthcare professionals may also prescribe medications to aid. Allergy medicines (antihistamines) may help decrease the body’s response to allergens and relieve allergic asthma symptoms, whether taken regularly or as needed. Healthcare professionals may also employ immunotherapy treatment methods in order to address underlying allergies that cause asthma – exposing individuals gradually over time to small doses of allergens in order to desensitize their immune systems and therefore lessen symptoms associated with allergic asthma.
An asthma and immunology specialist can help identify the specific allergens that trigger your asthma attacks and devise a treatment plan to manage them. Treatment may include quick-relief medications to be taken upon first signs of an attack; controller medicines that reduce airway inflammation; or newer therapies targeting specific proteins to stop swelling within airways through injection or auto-injector devices for people who do not respond well to traditional therapies.
Prevention
Though no cure exists yet for asthma, proper treatment can reduce symptoms and help avoid long-term complications. A key goal of prevention should be avoiding allergens that trigger asthma attacks such as airborne pollen from trees, grasses, weeds and flowers; dust mites; mold; pet dander; as well as chemicals found in some household cleaners, paper receipts or food containers.
Individuals diagnosed with allergic asthma should work closely with health care professionals to identify what triggers their symptoms and learn to identify and manage stress, which may trigger asthma attacks.
Asthma usually develops gradually over time and symptoms typically include dry cough or wheezing that can be brought on by exercise, cold air or other triggers like exercise, cold temperatures or environmental irritants such as strong scents or tobacco smoke; other possible triggers include infections.
At times of an asthma attack, the lungs become inflamed and constrict in response to airborne allergens, leading to difficulty in breathing and subsequent fatigue due to not receiving enough oxygen. Severe attacks require immediate medical care and those suffering with allergic asthma should take measures to limit exposure to environmental allergens – particularly seasonal ones – such as tree pollen or grass pollen in spring months when this pollen count peaks.
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