The Relationship Between Asthma and Allergies

Many of us might view allergies and asthma as being two very different, unrelated issues but they actually have a lot to do with one another.  The idea that these ailments are completely separate from one another is easy enough to assume, particularly because allergies tend to be seen as seasonal health disturbances while asthma is considered an everyday condition.  Even these characterizations of the two aren’t completely true all of the time, though.

Understanding that asthma and allergies do indeed interact with one another is helpful in fully understanding individual conditions and symptoms, as well as pinpointing the best methods for treatment.  To get to the bottom of this issue, let’s take a look at how these two health problems influence one another.

Cause and Effect

Asthma and various nasal allergies have a sort of cause and effect relationship with each other.  Both can, and do, occur on their own, but they will often also trigger symptoms for one another.  This mostly has to do with the sort of reactions that each condition will trigger and the way in which chronic symptoms affect someone dealing with one of these conditions in the long term.

For example, those with prolonged allergy problems may find that they begin to exhibit symptoms of asthma or that their allergy symptoms will exacerbate an existing asthma condition.

 

Woman with allergies blowing nose

Each of these conditions deals with histamine, an inflammatory agent that the body produces in response to foreign substances and various other stimuli.  In the case of allergy conditions, histamine is produced in response to the present of various allergens within the nasal passages as well as the throat.  This histamine production is initiated by the immune system as a response to the presence of what it deems to be dangerous foreign bodies that must be destroyed.

For those with asthma, the production of histamine due to an allergic reaction can cause inflammation in the air passages that inevitably leads to an asthma attack.  Those with asthma often find that their respiratory system is more sensitive to pollen allergens and that they’re more likely to have some kind of allergy on top of their asthma.

 

Girl using an asthma inhaler in the park

Dealing with Your Conditions

Allergies and asthma are often susceptible to the same things, with their distinctive difference being the way in which a person’s body responds to these triggers.  For those with typical nasal allergy symptoms, the site of the trigger becomes the nasal passages, while those with allergic asthma have the site of the trigger in their lungs.

Since both of these conditions contain various similarities with one another and are often triggered by the same things, treating them and improving overall symptoms is often the same kind of process.  Both deal with improving air quality as much as possible and, while this may not be all that simple in terms of outdoor air quality, much can be done about indoor air quality.

Various types of pollen, as well as dust and pet dander, are common triggers for both nasal allergy sufferers and those with asthma.  To cut down on exposure within the home, one of the most effective methods of control is the installation of one or more air purifiers.  Air purifiers come in a range of capacities, with some being ideal for large spaces in a home while others are perfect for bedrooms.

In fact, bedrooms are key areas where air purifiers should be installed if allergies and/or asthma are a problem.  This is where you spend around 8 hours a day, so you’re going to be exposed to the air in this room for a prolonged amount of time.  If the air quality in the bedroom isn’t ideal, then symptoms for both conditions are more than likely going to increase, leading to a lack of sleep that will only make matters worse.

 

Ill woman eating in bed

Medication is also an excellent source of relief and, in the case of those with asthma, this may be a mandatory step necessary to prevent hospitalization or even fatality.  For those with allergies, antihistamines are a major source of help in reducing inflammation that causes many allergy symptoms.

You may even benefit from immunotherapy, a treatment that involves a course of injections designed to increase your immunity to the allergens that trigger your symptoms.  More than likely, the best treatment for either condition is going to involve an integrated approach that takes into account a variety of factors.

By practicing smart habits, filtering the air in your home, using hypoallergenic bedding, and using medicine, the vast majority of allergy and asthma cases become easily manageable.

 

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