Breathing is a fundamental aspect of life, yet for individuals grappling with allergic asthma, what should be a simple act becomes a daunting experience.
Asthma, a chronic lung disease, is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the air passages, leading to wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. In some cases, asthma attacks can be triggered by exposure to certain allergens.
Let’s explore the world of allergic asthma, its causes, symptoms, and treatment options.
What Is Allergic Asthma?
Allergic asthma is a common type triggered by allergens such as pollen, pet dander, dust, and mold. When people with allergic asthma come into contact with their particular allergens, their immune system overreacts, causing inflammation and narrowing of the airways. This reaction leads to asthma symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
In some cases, the reaction to allergens can lead to an asthma attack, a severe and potentially life-threatening worsening of asthma symptoms. During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways can contract significantly, further narrowing the airways and making breathing difficult.
Identifying Your Asthma Triggers
It’s important for individuals with allergic asthma to identify their specific triggers and take steps to avoid them. This can help manage symptoms and reduce the risk of an asthma attack.
Here are some ways to identify triggers of allergic asthma:
Keep a Symptom Diary
Maintaining a symptom diary is a proactive way to track your allergic asthma. It involves recording specific details about each asthma episode to help identify potential triggers. Here’s what you should include in your symptom diary:
- When: Write down the date and time when your symptoms occur. This can help you notice if there are specific times of the day or night when your symptoms are more likely to happen.
- Where: Note the places where your symptoms occur. This could be at home, work, school, outdoors, or other environments.
- Activities: Jot down what you were doing just before or when your symptoms started. Were you exercising? Were you cleaning, which might have stirred up dust?
- Symptoms: Describe your symptoms during each episode of an asthma attack. Did you experience wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness?
- Severity: Rate the severity of each episode. This will help your healthcare provider understand how well your current treatment plan is working.
By analyzing this information over time, you can identify patterns and potential triggers causing your allergic asthma symptoms.
Undergo Allergy Testing
If your symptom diary suggests that certain allergens may be triggering your asthma, your healthcare provider may recommend allergy testing. Allergy testing can help pinpoint specific allergens causing your reactions.
- Skin Tests: During a skin test, several common allergens are pricked onto the skin surface. If you’re allergic to a particular substance, you’ll likely develop a raised bump or redness at the test spot.
- Blood Tests: A blood test may be used to measure the amount of specific antibodies produced by your immune system in response to allergens.
These tests can identify a wide range of allergens that can cause allergic asthma, including dust mites, pet dander, molds, and pollens.
Avoiding Trigger of Allergic Asthma
Once allergens are identified, the best course of action is to avoid them. Here are some strategies to minimize your exposure to allergens:
- Keep your home clean and dust-free
- Use air filters or purifiers to remove allergens from the air
- Wash bedding and soft furnishings regularly
- Keep pets out of the bedroom
- Avoid outdoor activities during the pollen season
- Use a mask when doing yard work or housecleaning
Treating Allergic Asthma Triggers
Here are some ways to treat allergic asthma.
Medications
Allergic asthma symptoms can be managed effectively with asthma and allergy medications. Some medications for allergic asthma include bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and mast cell stabilizers.
Bronchodilators help to relax bronchial muscles that have tightened, whereas corticosteroids help to decrease inflammation in the airways. Mast cell stabilizers are used to prevent the release of histamine, which is responsible for allergic reactions.
Medications should only be taken under the supervision of your healthcare provider as they can have different side effects.
Immunotherapy
If you have identified asthma triggers and have tried methods of mitigating exposure to them with little success, immunotherapy may be an option. Allergy shots or sublingual tablets are used as immunotherapy and are designed to help your immune system become less sensitive to allergens.
Once your sensitivity is diminished, the likelihood of having an asthma attack reduces. This treatment can take time, and its efficacy varies based on the patient.
When To Seek Emergency Care
Although it’s possible to manage your allergic asthma with medications and certain lifestyle changes, there may be times when your symptoms become severe and require emergency care.
This can include symptoms such as extreme shortness of breath, difficulty speaking or walking, bluish lips or fingernails, or a rapid heartbeat. If you experience any of these symptoms of an asthma attack, seek emergency care immediately.
Asthma Attack in DeSoto, TX
If you’re struggling with allergic asthma, you don’t have to face it alone. At Pivot Healthcare Company, our family nurse practitioner is committed to providing personalized care tailored to your unique needs. Our nurse practitioner will not only identify your allergic asthma trigger with allergic testing but also provide a tailored treatment plan, which may consist of medications, immunotherapy, and effective strategies to prevent asthma attacks.
To learn more or to set up a private consultation with our outstanding family nurse practitioner, call us today at (214) 242-9316 or fill out our online appointment request form.
