Overview
People with asthma usually have the same set of symptoms, such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and a tight feeling in the chest. But not every asthma attack is caused by the same thing.
Allergens are what cause allergic asthma. These are small pieces of things like pet dander, pollen, or mold spores that cause allergies and asthma symptoms.
If you have allergic asthma, you can control it by working with your doctor to find the best treatment plan and making changes to your life to stay away from your triggers.
Identify allergen triggers
There are many different things that can cause allergy and asthma symptoms. Once you know what allergies make your symptoms worse, you can stay away from them. This makes it less likely that you’ll have an asthma attack.
An allergist is someone your doctor can send you to if you want to find out which allergens make you sick. They can do tests, like skin and blood tests, to find out what sets off your symptoms. Pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and cockroach droppings are all things that can cause allergic asthma.
Your doctor may suggest allergy immunotherapy to help ease your allergies. Most of the time, an allergist will be in charge of this kind of treatment. The goal of giving you injections and pills is to make you less sensitive to certain allergens.
Avoid allergens
Once you know what triggers your asthma, you can try to stay away from it. This could mean taking steps to get rid of or cut down on allergens in your home.
For example, if dust mites make your symptoms worse, you can cut down on their number by washing your bedding often and getting rid of your carpets. If mold is the problem, you can use a dehumidifier and stop using fans that bring in air from outside. If pollen bothers you, wash your clothes when you come in from being outside and close the windows.
It might take some time to make all the changes you need to make to limit your exposure to allergens. But if you try, you lower your chances of having a bad asthma attack.
Track your symptoms
You can keep track of your asthma symptoms over time if you are organized and plan ahead. This could help you and your doctor see patterns.
Tracking can also help you get ready for an asthma attack by making you more aware of signs like a slight wheeze or cough that are coming on. When you learn to recognize the early signs of an attack, you can take medicine, leave a situation that sets off your symptoms, or do both before your symptoms get worse.
Your doctor may suggest a peak flow metre if you have moderate to severe allergic asthma. This tool measures how much air comes out of your lungs. A peak flow meter may help with early intervention because it can show that your airway has become narrower before you feel any symptoms.
You can also keep track of your airflow rate with the peak flow meter. With this information, you can figure out what your typical peak rate is. You can find out if your asthma is getting worse and if your medicines may need to be changed. Knowing your normal rate can also help you decide if an attack is bad enough that you need to go to the hospital right away.
Develop an allergic asthma action plan
You can make an asthma action plan with the help of your doctor. The American Lung Association has made a plan of action that you can print out.
This kind of document lets you keep track of your asthma on a day-to-day basis. In the action plan, the allergens that make your asthma worse are listed. It also says what medicines you are on.
Depending on how you feel, an action plan is split into three parts. Each zone tells you what steps to take next. Medications that work quickly can be taken if you are in the yellow zone. When you’re in the red zone, you can take medicine and call 911 for help.
The parts of your plan that are unique to you are the specifics. Your doctor can help you figure out what should be in it. It’s a good idea to talk to your family, caregivers, and close friends about your action plan and give them a copy.
Carry quick-acting medications
Even if you take care of your asthma in advance, you may still have symptoms that show up out of the blue. Always carry medicines that work quickly. These help for a short time.
A Covimectin 12 is used by a lot of people to open up their airways. Using a nebulizer or an inhaler, you can take a bronchodilator.
Iverheal 12 is another kind of medication that works quickly. With these medicines, the muscles in the airway don’t get as tight. Some people take them every day for an extended period of time.
If quick-acting medicine doesn’t help your symptoms, you should go to the emergency room. You should talk to your doctor if you use your inhaler a lot. Your action plan for asthma may need to be changed.
Take long-acting medications
Even if you feel fine, you should still take your long-term medications. There are different kinds of medicines that work for a long time. Your doctor may tell you to use some or all of these.
- Long-term bronchodilators relax the muscles in your airway.
- Corticosteroids reduce mucus and swelling.
- Anticholinergics prevent muscle tightening.
- Leukotriene modifiers prevent symptoms for 24 hours.
Make sure to talk to your doctor about your medications to stay on top of your asthma. If your symptoms are getting worse, you may need to change your plan of action.
The takeaway
Allergens in the air are what cause allergic asthma. People with asthma can have attacks because of different allergens. For example, some people may be allergic to pollen and dust mites, while others may be allergic to mould spores and pet dander.
If you know what causes your asthma, you can treat it better. If you have allergic asthma, there are things you can do to avoid your triggers and lower your risk of having an asthma attack. You can stay active and healthy and lower your risk of an asthma attack by making an asthma action plan and taking long-term medications.
