In 1984, May was declared “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month” by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). This is because, in May, most allergy and asthmatic symptoms begin to surface.
What Allergies Cause Asthma?
Many types of allergies can cause asthma in people with inflamed and sensitive airways. However, asthma triggers vary from person to person. An allergen that provokes an asthma attack in one person may not be harmful to another person with asthma. Therefore, if you are asthmatic, you should find out the specific allergens that cause an asthmatic attack in you and try to avoid such triggers. Sometimes delayed asthma episodes might occur depending on the trigger type and the patient’s sensitivity to it. Common allergens causing allergic asthma include pollen, grass, dust mites, cockroaches, pet danders, molds, and rodents.
Allergy-induced Asthma: Facts You Should Know
When your asthma is triggered due to an allergy, it is called allergy-induced asthma. However, many people can experience one condition without the other. Often, substances that trigger allergies can also trigger asthma. Additionally, family history and having allergies such as hay fever also play a major role in a person’s chances of developing allergies or asthma.
What Are The Symptoms Of Allergy-induced Asthma?
Allergic asthma symptoms are usually very similar to regular asthma. They include coughing, wheezing, chest tightening, shortness of breath, and rapid breathing.
If you have certain skin allergies or hay fever, you might also experience rashes, itchy and flaky skin, a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and congestion.
How Does An Allergic Reaction Cause Asthma Symptoms?
The immune system of people with allergies attacks the allergens when they come into contact with them in a similar way it would strike a bacteria or a virus. The substances released by your immune system cause allergy symptoms, including a runny nose, watery eyes, and coughing. This can eventually cause a flare-up of asthma symptoms in asthmatic people.
What Are The Causes Of Allergic Asthma?
The leading cause of allergic asthma is the overreaction of your immune system in the presence of an allergen. Some people may develop breathing problems when they inhale these allergens. This is known as allergic asthma.
Some allergens that can cause allergic asthma include pollen, dust mites, pet dander, smoking tobacco, air pollution, strong odors from certain perfumes and scented lotions, and chemical fumes. Some less common allergens that also can trigger an asthmatic reaction include milk, fish, eggs, cockroaches, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat.
Most Common Asthma Risk Factors
Common risk factors for developing asthma include:
- A family history of asthma
- Allergic conditions
- Having a brutal respiratory infection in your childhood
- Being exposed to certain industrial dust and chemical irritants in the workplace.
- Smoking
- Exposure to air pollution
- Obesity
Are Allergies And Asthma Treated Differently?
Most treatments available for allergies and asthma are designed to treat them separately. However, a few treatments help with both conditions, like leukotriene modifier, allergy shots or immunotherapy, and Anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) therapy.
If you are looking for expert allergy and asthma treatment, please feel free to call us at 843-572-1600 or schedule an appointment with our expert doctors at our COEM center today.
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Dr. William J. Weirs is a board-certified expert in the field of Emergency Medicine. He has been practicing for over 10 years, expanding his knowledge about various types of patients and clinical problems. Dr. Weirs is currently involved with fulltime consultation in integrative, functional, and environmental medicine. He is an expert in many types of allergy-related disorders and various kinds of autoimmune diseases.