Allergies and asthma
What a lot of people do not know is that allergies and asthma can be experienced together. The Mayo Clinic states that allergic asthma is one of the most common types of asthma found in the United States. People who have typical allergies experience a runny nose, watery eyes, sneeze, itch or have a combination of the above. The person who has allergic asthma reacts to the allergen with the typical symptoms but they go a step further. Those who have allergic asthma also have problems where as their breathing passages that go into the lungs all become inflamed and making it very hard to breathe. These problems include wheezing, their chest feeling tight, and being short of breath.
Some of the most common triggers that cause allergic asthma are dust, pollens, dust mites, and some pet danders. People that have food allergies frequently have symptoms of allergic asthma as well. So what happens when an allergen is introduced to a person? Well the nose breathes in the substance that the body is allergic to. Once the offensive substance is breathed into the body, the body then responds to it as it would a foreign body. The blood creates antibodies which are sent out in response to the substance that they are allergic to. The substances that cause these types of responses are commonly referred to as allergens.
The antibodies that the body produces causes the symptoms that we see in an allergic response. The allergic response causes the sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes some experience with hay fever or typical allergy type symptoms. With allergic asthma, the person also experiences wheezing and is short of breath.
So what are some things that can be done for allergies and asthma? The first thing that needs to be done is try to reduce the exposure to known allergens. If things such as dust mites or pet dander are the culprits then using precautions such as avoiding being around animals or getting rid of things in the home that can harbor dust mites can help this condition. Some things recommended are to cover pillows and mattresses, remove carpets and rugs from the home, keep the home clean and free of dust, removing books and other objects that can gather dust or mold, and frequently airing out the home will help reduce dust mites. If the person is allergic to certain foods then these foods need to be avoided in the diet.
If avoidance is not possible which is the case as in allergens where pollens are problematic then there are medications that can help these conditions. Antihistamines can be taken both over the counter or prescribed by a physician for allergy symptoms. Other medications such as steroids both oral and inhaled can be prescribed for both allergies and asthmatic problems. Some medications such as Singulair can be prescribed to help reduce the bodies immune response to allergens in the environment. This drug works for both allergies and allergic asthma.
For asthmatic flare ups there are inhalers that can be used as well as breathing treatments such as those done with a nebulizer that can be utilized by medical personnel in order to reduce the inflammation of the airways and help breathing in asthmatic persons.
Allergy shots and other types of allergy treatments can be offered by physicians to those who have severe reactions or those who do not respond to other types of medication which are listed above. Each individual will need to have their own treatment plan worked up by their physician as to what works for them.
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