Allergies and asthma - the codependent duo nobody asked for
By: Gabbi Di Marino, content manager and fellow allergy sufferer
If you’re already a sufferer of asthma, there’s a good chance you also suffer from seasonal allergies, and vice-versa. I, unfortunately, also fall under this not-so-nice branch. But, let’s assume you’re an allergy and asthma novice. This post will help you get the dirt on these two and how they often rile each other up!
What is asthma?
For a non-asthmatic person, breathing is a breeze. Air is taken in through the nose and passes into the bronchial tubes (the fancy way of saying airways), where it then travels into the lungs unrestricted, giving the body a delicious dose of oxygen. But, for the 25 million children and adults in the U.S. who have asthma, breathing doesn’t come that easy. So, what is asthma, you ask?
Asthma refers to a condition of the airways that causes them to become inflamed and constricted. So instead of breathing being an easy as pie process, an asthma sufferer will have a difficult struggle getting much-needed air into their lungs during an attack.
How does this happen? Well, first, the airways themselves begin to narrow in what is formally called a bronchospasm. Second, the airways start to swell up and become inflamed, and lastly, the cells within the airways start to produce excessive, thick mucus. All of these bodily responses combined make a sort of obstacle course for the breaths of an asthmatic, causing symptoms like shortness of breath, chest tightness, pain or pressure, wheezing, and a frequent cough. For minor attacks, these symptoms can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, which is more than enough to put a damper on a planned picnic or a daily yoga routine, and while severe episodes are less common, they are incredibly serious and require immediate medical assistance.
Breaking down allergic asthma
But why does asthma occur in the first place? Like others with asthma, I have many different triggers that cause an attack. Asthma can have several culprits behind it’s cause, like exposure to smoke, air pollution, and of course, coming into contact with an allergen like pesky pollen, which is one of the most prevalent causes I deal with personally. This type of asthma is known as allergic asthma or allergy-induced asthma. And unfortunately for me, my seasonal allergies don’t begin and end with spring and summer - I have them all year round, which means that my asthma is also an active problem I have to deal with. And I’m not alone in this struggle either. There’s a lot of people that are in the same runny-nosed, wheezy boat as I am. In fact, it’s actually one of the most common types of asthma. 60% of the 25 million people that suffer from asthma, also have allergic asthma.
It’s a serious problem. On top of having to deal with the usual infamous symptoms of seasonal allergies, those with allergic asthma also have to add breathing complications to the list of burdensome things to endure in hay fever season (or if you’re like me, year round!).
A major complication that can occur with allergic asthma is anaphylaxis, which is the formal way of saying a severe, possibly life-threatening allergic reaction. Symptoms of this reaction include:
Anxiety
Hives
Swelling of the mouth or face
Trouble swallowing
Confusion
Cough
Diarrhea
Fainting
Nasal congestion
Slurred speech
And although allergic asthma isn’t always preventable, there are some things you can do to ensure you’re staying safe and helping to curb your symptoms as best as possible. For example, avoiding outdoor activities when pollen levels are high is an easy thing to do (although, when the weather is nice and you’re dying to have that patio lunch, it can be hard to lock yourself indoors.) Another precaution that I always use is making sure my inhaler is on me wherever I go, so that I have it to fall back on in case of a sudden attack.
If you have a tip on regulating your symptoms or want to share your personal story with allergic asthma, comment below!