What is Allergy Induced Asthma?

By: Isabelle Boulay

When someone is exposed to an allergen – a substance to which their body is sensitive – they may produce ‘histamines’, which cause inflammation and irritation as they work to rid the body of the allergen. In the case of allergy induced asthma, the histamines go to work on the bronchial passages and lungs, making it difficult for the allergic person to breathe.

The incidence of allergy induced asthma has grown almost geometrically in recent years, and scientists aren’t quite sure why. They suspect that part of the reason may be the increased exposure of children to some common allergens. This seems to be borne out by population based studies – African-American and Hispanic children living in the inner city are far more likely to develop allergy induced asthma than Caucasian children in the same cities, and even those children are more likely to develop allergy induced asthma than suburban and rural children of the same socioeconomic level.

A number of reasons have been advanced for the disparity, but the most likely is simply that Black and Hispanic children are far more likely to live in the most crowded old neighborhoods of the city. Crowding is the biggest risk factor for the presence of common household pests like cockroaches and rodents, and cockroach parts and rodent droppings are two of the most common allergens in children with allergy induced asthma.

Diagnosing Allergy Induced Asthma

Doctors will diagnose asthma differently depending on the age of the patient. Children under five, for instance, may find it difficult to follow instructions for breathing capacity tests. Doctors will often use history, both the child’s and the family medical history, to help determine the possibility of asthma. Often, if asthma is suspected, the doctor will prescribe a bronchodilator. If it helps, the diagnosis is confirmed.

In older children and adults, doctors may perform a series of breathing capacity tests with a peak flow meter and a spirometer to help determine the extent of an asthma problem.

Generally, doctors don’t use allergy tests to diagnose asthma, but if there’s a reason to believe that a specific allergen is a problem, allergic dermatitis tests may be used to confirm or rule out possible allergens. Knowing that a specific substance or food is a problem can help you avoid it and reduce your risk of asthma attacks.

Treating Allergy Induced Asthma

The good news is that interventions to reduce exposure to allergens seems to be as effective a treatment for allergy induced asthma as corticosteroid inhalers. If your child has been diagnosed with allergy induced asthma, there are ways that you can help control your child’s symptoms. Besides using inhalers and nebulizers as directed by your doctor, you can also keep your home – and especially your child’s bedroom – as close to allergen free as possible. Mattress covers, pillow cases, air filters and pest control measures can reduce your child’s exposure to allergens that cause allergy induced asthma to worsen into acute stages.

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Are Your Asthma And Allergies Caused By A Low Immune System?

Allergy Asthma


By: Susan Millar -

Many people who suffer from asthma and allergies don't realize it, but a low immune system is very likely at the root of their problems. Medical experts agree that a lowered or improperly functioning immune system can and does result in several diseases such as asthma, allergies, arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome and cancer to name just a few.

The body's immune systems first line of defense against disease are barriers that prevent antigens, which are large protein molecules of bacteria, viruses, chemicals and other substances that appear harmful from entering your body. The barriers include your skin, mucus, cough reflex, stomach acid and even enzymes in your tears, which destroy toxins. If the antigen or toxin manages to get past these barriers, then the immune system launches a second line of defense, found in your blood. They are white blood cells, which perform a protective function by seeking out and destroying foreign protein antigens.

If you suffer from a low immune system it is important to avoid things that suppress or act to destroy it, such as a high cholesterol diet, heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium), fat, alcohol, fried foods, food additives, obesity, industrial pollutants, pesticides, herbicides, stress, prescription drugs, too much sunlight, tobacco, and radiation.

Unfortunately, there is no "magic bullet" that you can take to quickly repair your immune system, but there are several ways to help build and support it by providing your body with proper nutrition, regular exercise, adequate rest, relaxation and maintaining a positive mental attitude.

Taking the following dietary steps will help protect and build your immune system:

*** Limit saturated and trans fats, food additives and alcohol

*** Take a good quality multi-vitamin/mineral supplement daily

*** Ensure your diet includes adequate protein

*** Take 1000 mg of Vitamin C daily.

*** Eat 3 to 4 servings of vegetables daily.

*** Eat 3 to 4 servings of legumes weekly.

*** Eat 3 to 4 servings of omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods weekly

The length of time required to re-build a low immune system of course will vary depending on your individual situation and environmental exposure to immune system suppressants. This is not an overnight process, for some people it can take three months to two years. Obviously, the higher your exposure has been to immuno-suppressants, the longer it will take to build your immune system. Children tend to heal much more quickly than adults or the elderly.

People with allergies and asthma will find that their asthma and allergy symptoms become less frequent and less severe when their immune systems are strong. It's important to avoid using allergy and asthma drugs, which have toxic side effects and act to lower the immune system. There are natural supplements that safely and effectively eliminate allergy and asthma symptoms.



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Allergy Asthma

Allergy Asthma


By Jason Gluckman

Of all the diseases related to the respiratory system, asthma allergy is the most prevalent. This condition is usually visible in children and young adults, but the process may progress throughout their lives. Asthma allergy is a lung disease characterized by difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing, and the increase in production of mucus during an attack. The symptoms may bring simple discomfort or they may eventually lead to death, depending on the number allergens that affect the patient, causing blockages in the airways.

Cause of Asthma Allergies

The cause of asthma allergy is similar to the causes of an allergic reaction in a person. Allergens include dust, chemicals, scents, odors and changes in temperature. The actual reactions vary from patient to patient. In some cases of asthma allergy, symptoms are triggered by exercise or the emotional state of a person. These symptoms are quite unique.

Smoke is the most recognized cause of allergy asthma, especially for children. Statistics show that a ratio of eight out of 10 children are at risk of developing asthmatic conditions when exposed to smoke. It is believed that as the city becomes more industrialized, people may develop symptoms that are similar to asthma.

Risk Factors

Asthma allergy is not distinct to certain types of people. Anyone of any age, race, weight, height or gender is at risk of acquiring the disease. People who are involved in industries that deal with heavy emissions are at a higher risk of developing asthma.

It is also believed that asthma allergy is a hereditary disorder. A person who has a history of asthma allergy in the family is also at risk.

Treatments

Treatment starts with managing asthma attacks. To do this, a person needs to stay away from allergens that trigger asthma allergy. There are also medicines that can be prescribed by a physician to alleviate some symptoms.




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Allergies And Asthma - Differences And Similarities

Allergy Asthma


by Mike Herman

Allergies are the most common cause of the inflammation which underlies most asthma particularly in younger sufferers.

Allergy rates are on the increase especially in Western countries (compared to people in less affluent rural parts of the world) and there is a growing body of evidence that strongly suggests that asthma is an environmentally induced disease.

This raises the challenging possibility that we may be able to prevent asthma by altering our environment.

Treating asthma by removing the causes, aka triggers, may prove to be successful when the cause is easy to remove, such as a dust or vapors inhaled at the office.

This is also true when the cause is a pet such as a cat or dog, however the reluctance to not have loved pet commonly prevents this.

An allergy to house dust mites is one of the commonest cause of asthma but getting rid of mites sufficiently to make a significant difference requires such a major and expensive change in lifestyle for the sufferer that it is rarely successful..

Research is currently being carried out to develop future treatments which may be able to modify or diminish the allergic process in the body and help all asthmatics.

Asthma and Allergies

*The cause of the inflammation (of the airway) which underlies most asthma in younger sufferers is one or more allergies.

*More people in western countries suffer from allergies, compared to people in less affluent parts of the world, and allergy rates are on the increase.




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Allergy Asthma: Can You Live A Healthy Life?

Allergy Asthma


By Chelsea Aubin

Most people with allergy asthma know that when the pollen starts falling, things are going to get a little crazy. People with this condition have asthma that is triggered by pollen and particles floating around in the air. There isn't much you can do about this during this time of year but take your allergy medication, and also the inhaler that you may use to control your asthma.

When you have this condition you may notice that you get it during certain times of the year, and that it may have different triggers. Pollen is not the only allergy asthma trigger. There are also other known triggers associated with this condition. You can be allergic to everyday dust found in your house. You could also have problems with mold in the air or even on foods. There are also many other things you can encounter in your everyday life that could trigger you allergy asthma. Allergy Asthma is not something that should be taken lightly as it could quickly develop into a life threatening situation. If you do not find out what triggers your asthma, you could inadvertently walk right into a death trap.

Asthma is something that will never go away. It would also be very hard to keep the dust and pollen out of your life as well so you may ask what you can do about it then. If this person is you, you need to get to a doctor and see if he or she has any suggestions on how to control it. The doctor will most likely prescribe a medication that will help control the attacks. Sometimes after being on the medication for awhile you will never have an attack again. If you can get the medicine you will be able to control it.

You don't have to suffer because it is allergy season. You can control your asthma and still be able to enjoy the great outdoors. If the attacks prove to be that bad, you can ask for a stronger medicine that you can take twice a day to prevent attacks. You can also get an inhaler that you can take once a day, or at the beginning of attacks and feel better in a matter of minutes. The trick is to figure out if it is allergy asthma you have, so you can fix the problem.



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Double trouble: The link between allergies and asthma

James T. Li, M.D.

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If you have both allergies and asthma, you may wonder what they have in common besides a maddening ability to make you miserable. A lot, as it turns out. Allergy-induced asthma is the most common type of asthma in the United States; 60% of people with asthma have the allergic type. James T. Li, M.D., a Mayo Clinic allergy specialist answers your questions about the similarities and the differences between allergies and asthma.

What's the link between allergies and asthma?

Simply put, allergies can trigger or induce asthma. For people with allergic asthma, breathing in substances such as pollen, mold, dust mites and animal dander triggers the inflammation and swelling of the airways, leading to symptoms of asthma.

The lining of the nose and the lining of the airways are similar and are affected similarly by the allergic inflammatory process. Allergies are caused by the production of an antibody called IgE. The IgE antibodies cause a cascade of reactions in the body, including itchy skin or scratchy eyes or, for some, tightening of the airways. Simply put, if your immune system produces IgE antibody toward cat proteins, you're said to be allergic to cats. Exposure to cats triggers inflammation and swelling of the lining of the nose, bronchial tubes or both.

If I treat my allergies, will it prevent asthma?

Some studies suggest that treatment of allergic rhinitis actually improves asthma. Allergen immunotherapy (desensitization allergy shots) is a type of allergy treatment that can significantly improve asthma. In addition, if you have allergic asthma, reducing your exposure to the allergic substance can reduce your asthma problems and in some cases, completely control it.

Are allergies and asthma treated differently?

Medications aimed at reducing inflammation are effective for allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, as well as nonallergic asthma. Corticosteroids for example, reduce inflammation. Intranasal corticosteroids, which you spray into your nose, reduce inflammation from hay fever. Corticosteroid creams applied to your skin reduce the inflammation of eczema. And inhaled corticosteroids, which you inhale into your lungs using an inhaler device, reduce inflammation of the bronchial tubes in asthma.

Another medication, called a leukotriene modifier, also is used to reduce inflammation. Leukotriene modifiers are taken in pill form and are used for both asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms.

Other medications are clearly more effective for one condition over another. Antihistamines, for example, are commonly used to treat allergic rhinitis but have a very minor benefit for asthma. Bronchodilator inhalers, which open congested airways, are a big part of asthma treatment, though they aren't used to treat allergic rhinitis.

Who's at risk of allergic asthma?

A family history of allergies is the strongest risk factor having allergic asthma. If you have allergies, you're more likely to develop asthma — up to 78 percent of people who have asthma also have hay fever.

Is all asthma caused by allergies?

Though allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma, there are other forms and triggers of asthma, including exercise-induced asthma and nonallergic asthma triggered by infections or cold air or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Nothing to sneeze at

While it may be a manner of semantics to those who suffer from allergy or asthma symptoms, recognizing the relationship between the body's immune system and how the airways react has led to improved treatment of asthma symptoms for many people.

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