Allergic asthma is often brought on by breathing in allergens that trigger an immune response in which chemicals such as immunoglobulin E (IgE) are released by your immune system, leading to irritation and swelling in your airways.
Pollen, pet dander and mold are known to trigger hay fever symptoms; similarly, these substances also can aggravate asthma symptoms. Treatment options may include rescue inhalers that quickly open up airways to increase breathing speed or antihistamines to decrease allergy-related reactions.
Medications
Your asthma medications should help manage and prevent flare-ups. Fast-acting rescue medicines, or long-term treatment plans to keep symptoms under control may be needed at different points during an asthma episode; additionally, allergy shots may help build your tolerance to allergens over time.
Your doctor will prescribe and instruct you in how to take preventer medication as directed by them. Take it daily until your physician tells you otherwise; always adhere to what was recommended – if your symptoms improve quickly see him before altering or decreasing dose.
Quick-relief medications (rescue inhalers) help temporarily relieve respiratory symptoms by opening airways. Available as tablets, capsules or granules and inhaled using a metered-dose inhaler (MDI), dry powder inhaler or breath-actuated inhaler; they may also be inhaled using a holding chamber attached to a pressurized MDI or directly using a nebulizer.
Long-acting bronchodilators such as formoterol, salmeterol and vilanterol work to open airways for 12-24 hours at a time and may be taken alone or combined with corticosteroids. Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (umeclidinium and tiotropium) also offer relief by relaxing smooth muscles in the airways to decrease inflammation – these may be prescribed in addition to daily inhaled steroids for severe cases. Omalizumab (Xolair) works by targeting proteins released during allergies caused by dust mites or pollen and helps control symptoms by decreasing inflammation – either injection or infusion and considered add-on therapy to daily controller medication regimens.
Lifestyle Changes
Many people with allergies also have asthma, wherein symptoms worsen when exposed to triggers like pollen, dust mites, pet dander, smoke or strong smells. While some can avoid their allergy triggers completely, others may be powerless against them.
Your doctor can provide assistance in managing allergy and asthma symptoms by prescribing medications as directed, especially daily controller medications and emergency relief inhalers as directed. Inquire with them also regarding immunizations against flu and pneumonia which are two common lung infections which worsen asthma symptoms significantly.
Diet is also key in managing asthma effectively; try eating a variety of nutritious foods while limiting processed, salty, and sugary treats that could exacerbate symptoms. Ensuring enough sleep each night is also crucial; try going to bed at roughly the same time each night while adhering to a soothing bedtime ritual – all while keeping your room cool and dark!
Regular exercise is beneficial for everyone, but especially important if you suffer from asthma. Regular physical activity can help improve both your breathing and overall quality of life – talk with your physician about safe levels of physical activity that could improve it for you and how best to keep up with it.
Allergy Testing
Allergy tests can help identify specific allergens that contribute to asthma symptoms, and are carried out by exposing small quantities of potential allergens directly onto skin or blood samples for testing purposes. By pinpointing your allergy triggers, it allows you to take steps to avoid them and gain control back over your symptoms.
Allergens can be found both indoors and outdoors. From airborne particles, to food and pet dander, allergens are everywhere we turn – including in our food, drink and pets’ fur. Common allergens include mold spores, dust mites, tree pollen, grass pollen, weed pollen and mold fungus; animal dander may also cause reactions in certain people.
Antihistamines or medications used to treat allergy rhinitis (sneezing and itchy eyes) must be discontinued three to seven days before an allergy test, as their use can skew your test results by interfering with your immune system and potentially altering its responses.
Your healthcare provider may recommend one or more types of allergy testing depending on your unique circumstances, such as skin prick testing. With this procedure, tiny lancet needles puncture the surface of your arm with allergen extracts for up to 50 allergen extracts at one time – only briefly penetrating through to cause momentary discomfort, as you won’t bleed. Some skin prick tests look for immediate allergic reactions while others check for delayed reactions that take several days to appear.
Follow-Up Care
Allergens that trigger rashes, watery eyes and itching in the nose and throat may also contribute to asthma symptoms in some individuals. Allergens are found both indoors and outdoors – such as dust mites, mold spores, pet dander and tree grass and weed pollen are among them – including dust mites, mold spores, pet dander and dust.
Allergic asthma symptoms vary between individuals, from wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest to shortness of breath and even anaphylaxis (an allergic reaction that threatens life).
People living with allergic asthma must adhere to all medication as prescribed and visit their provider on an ongoing basis. At these visits, your provider will ask about your symptoms and frequency; check trigger avoidance; optimize inhaler use; monitor progress towards decreasing (“stepping down”) medication use over time; and more.
If your asthma symptoms flare-up (an attack), contact your healthcare professional as soon as possible. They will review your medications and work with you to come up with a plan to limit trigger exposure or treat symptoms until the flare-up passes. Being well informed on your condition, knowing when and what symptoms to look out for, as well as knowing when and why calling the doctor, can give you much greater control of asthma.
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