Allergies, Inside & Out

The following is an Editorial Resource from YourTotalHealth.

Allergic Asthma

Reviewed by: Marc J. Sicklick, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways that usually results in shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. About 20 million Americans have asthma, and more than half of them also have allergies, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The combination—known as allergic asthma—can be dangerous due to inflammation. Typical allergy symptoms (sneezing, runny nose) stem primarily from inflammation of delicate tissues in the airways.

But in people with allergic asthma those airways are already incredibly sensitive. So during an allergy attack, they may experience not just coughing and sneezing but contraction of the muscles around the airways. That makes it difficult to breathe.

So people with asthma have extra incentives to manage their allergies effectively. Fortunately, there are good methods:

• Avoid your allergen. Identify and avoid your allergens. Preventing an allergic reaction may mean preventing an attack of asthma.
  
  
• Bronchodilators. Your doctor may prescribe an inhaler, which allows you to breathe directly into your lungs prescription medications that relax the airway muscles and open up the air passages. These are usually used at the first sign of an asthma attack.
  
  
• Corticosteroids. These anti-inflammatory medications are also inhaled and help reduce swelling of the airways. They are often used along with bronchodilators to treat both short- and long-term symptoms, and reduce the number of overall asthma attacks.
  
  
• Antihistamines. Your doctor may prescribe these medications to be used continuously as a prevention method for allergic asthma. Continuous use helps to control allergy symptoms as well as inflammation. But only take antihistamines continuously if your doctor tells you to.
  
  
• Allergy shots/Immunotherapy. Allergic asthma is a good reason to consider allergy shots, which may increase your tolerance to an allergen, thus preventing or reducing symptoms. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons.
  
  

What's Next: Natural Allergy Treatments

• Meet the Allergens
  
• Manage Your Allergies
  
• Home: Your Allergy-Free Zone
  
• Keep Your Pet!
  
• Love the Outdoors Again
  
• Sneeze-Free Gardening
  
  

Review date: 02-19-2008