Connection Between Allergies and Asthma

Overview

Allergies and asthma often happen together making you feel miserable at the same time. Understanding each disorder will help you control and manage your symptoms more effectively.

What is Asthma?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define asthma as a disease that affects your lungs. Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that causes your airways to become inflamed and narrow which makes it difficult to breathe. Severe asthma can negatively affect your health and cause severe respiratory distress. According to the CDC, 1 out of 13 people is dealing with asthma. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 235 million people worldwide who are living with asthma. Although rare in the United States, fatalities occur, primarily in low-income countries.

More often than not, asthma starts in childhood; however, it may develop and affect people of all ages. Symptoms of asthma involve coughing, wheezing, and breathlessness. The severity and frequency of symptoms vary from person to person. Some people feel the symptoms during physical activity or more acutely at night, but others may have an unprovoked asthma attack.

During an asthma flair, coughing, wheezing, and breathlessness worsen, making it difficult to speak or breathe. Although there is no cure for asthma, treatments are available to prevent and manage the symptoms and limit asthma attacks. According to WHO, patients receiving treatment live a normal and rewarding life.

What are Allergies?

Allergies occur when the immune system interprets normally safe substances as dangerous and mounts a response designed to protect our body from threats. The system in place to defend your body against bacteria, viruses and foreign invaders interprets harmless substances such as pollen, dust, food or mediation as dangerous and attempts to eliminate them. The substances that trigger an allergic reaction are called allergens. Antibodies are produced specifically to individual allergens.

An antibody response is triggered when an allergen is recognized by the immune system. Allergen-specific antibodies attach themselves to mast cells, a type of allergic cell present in the blood and organs. When the antibodies see their specific allergen, it stimulates the mast cell to release various inflammatory mediators, including histamine. Histamine causes symptoms of an allergic reaction, including itching, sneezing, and hives.

An allergic reaction may occur in different parts of the body, such as the skin, sinuses, airways, eyes, and nasal passages. Signs and symptoms may depend on the type of allergen you are exposed to. For example, if the allergens are inhaled, it may cause the lining of the nose to be inflamed and produce more mucus. This leads to sneezing, itchy, watery eyes and congestion. The worst-case scenario is that an allergen may cause anaphylaxis which is a rapid and serious allergic reaction.

What is the connection between asthma and allergies?

Often, environmental allergens trigger asthma symptoms in a condition called allergic asthma. Over 60% of individuals have allergic asthma, which is the most common type of asthma. According to the Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, symptoms are triggered when an allergen is inhaled into the lungs, where it causes inflammation of the respiratory tract lining, leading to narrowing of the bronchial tubes. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) states that the immune system responds to specific allergens by producing allergic antibodies, also known as immunoglobulin E (IgE), which leads to the release of inflammatory substances. Pulmonary inflammation causes the bronchial tubes to narrow, mucus to be produced and the tubes to be compressed, which leads to asthma symptoms of chest tightness, cough, shortness of breath and wheezing.

Allergic asthma is diagnosed by testing for seasonal allergies or year-round allergies and spirometry, which measures how much air is able to be exhaled. Common triggers of allergic asthma include the following:

  • Pollen – from flowers, trees, grasses, and weeds is a very common trigger for allergic asthma. Its prevalence depends on the season, but remnants may linger in air ducts and homes all year long.
  • Housepets – their urine, saliva, hair and animal dander (dead skin cells) are all potential allergens.
  • Mold spores and fragments – mold grows on damp surfaces and can be found almost everywhere.
  • Dust Mites – the AAFA describes dust mites as microscopic spider-like creatures that feed on human skin flakes. Both the body parts and feces of dust mites are allergens and can be found in mattresses, pillows, carpets, furniture, clothing, bedding, and stuffed animals.
  • Cockroaches – can be found almost anywhere on earth. Their feces, saliva, and body parts are considered allergens.

Prevent and Treat Allergic Asthma

Allergic Asthma is incurable but manageable. Take control of your symptoms. Talk to your asthma specialist to determine the best way for you to control your condition and prevent a serious asthma flare. Dr. Amy Schiffman, an asthma specialist in Boca Raton, Florida, will be more than happy to help you formulate your allergic asthma management plan.

Book your appointment today!

Please call the office to discuss your allergy evaluation needs, and medications to avoid in preparation for testing.

Our Office Hours

Monday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday Closed

*Office hours are subject to change due to meetings and holidays.

© 2019 Amy B Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Specialists. All rights reserved