Asthma (asthma symptoms) may be caused by allergies, which temporarily increases the inflammatory processes in airway sensitive.
What is an allergy?
Allergy is the reaction of the immune system to contact with anything that in other circumstances can be completely harmless, for example, plant pollens, mold or fungus, wool, saliva or animal skin. The immune system is a protective system of the body, but with allergies, the immune system sees in these substances, called "allergens", a danger, thereby causing abnormal functioning of the body. Allergens are substances that cause a series of responses of the immune system (allergic reaction).
What allergy triggers asthma?
Inhaled allergens
The most dangerous allergens for people with allergic asthma are inhaled with air. Hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis occurs when the allergen comes in contact with a substance to which the body reacts sharply. Common inhaled allergens:
- Wool of animals (skin, saliva)
- Dust
- Products of life of cockroaches
- Mold, fungus
- Pollen
Doctors recommend all people suffering from allergies and asthma, first to determine the allergens that cause exacerbation of asthma symptoms.
Food allergy
Food allergies rarely cause asthma but can be potentially life-threatening. The most common food allergens:
- Eggs
- Cow's milk
- Soybean
- Peanut
- Cereals
- A fish
- Shrimp and other seafood
- Salad and fresh fruit
Canned foods can also cause an asthma attack. Additives such as sodium hydrogen sulphate, potassium bisulphate, sodium metabisulfite, sodium hydrogen sulphate monohydrate are often used in the processing or preparation of products and are found in such products:
- Dried fruits or dried vegetables
- Potatoes (packaged semi-finished product)
- Wine and beer
- Lime or lemon juice in bottles
- Shrimp (fresh, frozen or ready)
- Marinated products
Most people with food allergies may exhibit symptoms such as rashes, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. If you are allergic, which affects asthma exacerbation, you will most likely run into these symptoms, characteristic of asthma, which, in addition, will be accompanied by a cough and wheezing. If nothing is done in time, anaphylaxis may occur-swelling of the larynx, which restricts the free circulation of oxygen through the respiratory tract.
If you think that some products provoke an asthma attack, talk with your doctor. He will offer to take an allergy test to test the body's response to these products.
What if I have allergies and asthma?
If you have allergies and asthma, first of all, you must avoid substances that cause allergies. Here are some tips to help deal with the main allergens and prevent the worsening of asthma symptoms.
Dust Mites
- Pack the pillows, mattresses and spring bed grid into hypoallergenic covers with zippers.
- Once a week, wash the bed linen in hot water.
- Best of all - the lack of carpets. If you can not get rid of carpeting, try to vacuum more often using multi-layer hypoallergenic dust bags. When vacuuming, put on face mask. If your child has asthma, then try not to vacuum in his presence. The stores sell the means that destroy the dust mite.
- Better avoid curtains and draperies. Use simple single-layered curtains instead of multiple drapes and flounces. Curtains should be washed in hot water every 2-4 weeks.
- As often as possible, wipe all the surfaces in the house with a damp cloth, including lamps and window sills.
- Keep the house in order. Toys and books should be stored in closets, drawers or pantries.
- Cover the vented holes with filters or gauze. All closets and pantries must be closed.
- It is necessary to refuse feather pillows and mattresses (down is the source of the allergen).
- Try to control the humidity level (25% -50%) in the house. Use air dehumidifiers.
- Regularly change the filters in the heaters and air conditioners.
Mold and fungi
- Often ventilate the wet areas. Use a dehumidifier to maintain moisture content of no more than 25% -50%.
- Whenever possible, use air conditioners.
- Regularly clean in the bathroom using cleaners that prevent the appearance of mold and fungus. Use a steam extractor. Never carpet the bathroom.
- When painting the bathroom, add a fungicide to the paint, which prevents the growth of mold.
- Visible mold is best cleaned with a solution containing 5% bleach and a small amount of detergent.
Insects
Very often in houses and apartments, there are cockroaches and other insects. Some people suffering from asthma may have an allergy to the protein contained in the products of the life of insects. To control the presence of an allergen at home:
- Use the traps for cockroaches.
- You can use aerosols from insects. But it's worth splashing only when no one is home. After sprinkling, the room or apartment should be ventilated a few hours before your arrival or child.
- Since the cockroaches live in high humidity, so try to remove the water drops around the apartment, especially in the kitchen and in the bathroom.
- Keep food in containers with a lid, wipe the plates before eating, and after eating sweep the floor (so that there are not any crumbs left).
Pollen
Pollen are tiny egg-shaped cells of flowering plants. It is difficult to avoid contact with pollen, since it can not be removed from the air. In plants, periods of flowering are different, which can vary from year to year. The weather affects the amount of pollen in the air. For example, hot, dry and windy weather only increases the amount of pollen. In general, the flowering season lasts from February to October.
[caption id="attachment_224" align="aligncenter" width="536"]
pollen-allergy-asthma[/caption]You can reduce contact with pollen as follows:
- During the rapid formation of pollen, for example, early in the morning, it is worthwhile to limit the time on the street.
- Stay home when the weather is wet or windy, as in these days there is a lot of pollen in the air.
- In the flowering period, keep the windows in the house closed.
- If possible, use the air conditioner.
Wool of animals
- If you or your child is allergic to animal hair, then the best way to give up pets is not to keep them in the house.
- It is necessary to avoid long visits to friends or relatives who have pets at home. If you still come to visit, then do not forget to bring the necessary medications for asthma or allergies. During a visit, contact with the animal should be minimized.
- If the presence of a dog or cat in the house is necessary, then limit its territory of residence. Animal wool remains on the carpeting even after the animal has not become in the house.
Food allergy
If you have a food allergy, then try to avoid the appropriate allergens. It is very important to read the composition of the products on the label, and if you are dining outside the house, be sure to ask how the dishes were cooked.
Immunotherapy
It is possible to train the immune system not to react so sharply to allergens. Doctors often use this method, injecting stimuli (immunotherapy) into the body. The body injects an allergen in small doses, which in this person causes a severe allergy. After repeated injections at regular intervals, the immune system ceases to show a strong allergic reaction. Ask your doctor about the possibility to undergo immunotherapy.