Allergy tests are a great way of helping you prevent one of the main triggers for asthma attacks. Many people live with allergies, which are closely related to asthma, with either one causing the other. Even though an Allergy Test isn’t an absolute diagnosis of asthma, it helps you identify one main trigger.
According to Ashma UK {1}, many people with asthma also suffer from allergies because allergens are the most common asthma trigger. This condition is known as allergic asthma. It mostly peaks in childhood and decreases steadily in adulthood.
What is allergic asthma?
When you have allergic asthma, allergens trigger your asthma symptoms. Allergic asthma occurs when allergies combine with asthma, a breathing condition. Allergic asthma is a specific type of asthma that causes airways to tighten when breathing in an allergen.
Allergens are substances that cause an allergic reaction by inhaling, swallowing, injecting, or touching them. Allergens that can trigger allergic asthma have to breathe in, including mould spores, pollen, and animal dander. Allergens are referred to as triggers as they set off your asthma.
The most common symptoms of allergic asthma include:
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
- Chest tightness or pain
- Wheezing
These symptoms will also accompany other allergy symptoms like red itchy eyes, sneezing, stuffy nose, and itchy and runny nose. Due to these asthma symptoms, you may find it difficult to sleep, and if you have a peak flow meter, you’ll notice a drop.
When you’re suffering from an allergy, your body thinks these substances are harmful, even though others can experience them without symptoms. Upon contact with an allergen, your body fires up all its defences through the immune system, which releases immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.
Excessive IgE in your body causes inflammation and constriction of the airways. This is then referred to as an asthma attack, and it makes it difficult for you to breathe. When you suffer from allergic rhinitis, this process happens with your nose and sinus.
How do I know if allergies cause my asthma?
For some people, allergies and asthma are linked, while others are not. Allergic asthma occurs when the symptoms are linked to an allergic reaction. You’ll, however, notice allergic asthma during pollination season every year.
For example, if you have a birch tree pollen allergy, you’ll notice that you have allergy and asthma symptoms simultaneously every year. These symptoms often last until pollen season passes, especially if you go outside all the time and get exposed to pollen.
Avoiding allergens is the best way to deal with allergic asthma. It is also common to trigger asthma with the same allergens like pollen, dander, dust, and mould. But the difference between both conditions is that allergic asthma comes with allergy symptoms while asthma attacks only present asthma symptoms. However, it is best to take an Allergy Test to find out culprits.
What is the best allergy test for asthma?
Our Allergy Test
If allergies induce asthma attacks, it is best to know which allergens to avoid them. When you have allergic asthma, it’s common that someone else in your family suffers from the same. An Allergy Test will help you figure out whether you have seasonal allergies that trigger your asthma or if it’s due to perennial allergies.
Seasonal allergy examples include pollen from weeds, trees, and grasses. In comparison, perennial allergies include mould, animal dander, and dust mites. Test Your Intolerance allergy test checks for allergens in your environment, food, and drinks. This means you’ll have a full-body analysis of allergies that could affect you.
What allergies can trigger asthma?
Certain allergens commonly trigger asthma. These include:
- Animals- We regularly interact with animals like dogs, cats, mice, and birds. Their urine, faeces, skin flakes (dander), or hair are allergens and can cause allergic reactions and even asthma attacks. These allergens are sometimes present even in homes that don’t have pets.
- Dust mites- Even though these are microscopic animals, they can cause many issues for those allergic to them. They feed on human skin flakes. Their body parts and faeces, however, trigger an allergic reaction. These microscopic animals love moist and warm areas, and you will likely find them in carpets, clothes, furniture, fabric, stuffed toys, and beds.
- Pollen- Pollen produced by weeds, trees, and grasses are common allergens. Since these particles are airborne, they can travel for hundreds of miles. Different types of pollen peak at varying times of the year, and because of climate change, these seasons are getting longer and stronger.
- Cockroaches- These animals can survive in any environment. Their saliva, faeces, saliva, and body parts are allergens.
- Mould- When moisture is present, mould can grow on anything. This includes soil, leaves, wood, and debris of other plants. Indoors, you can easily find mould under your sink, shower, or bathtub. Mould produces spores as a way of reproduction, and these airborne substances, when breathed in, can cause an allergic reaction or asthma attack.
How to treat allergic asthma
To manage your asthma and allergy symptoms by treating both and avoiding triggers.
- Manage your allergen exposure: After taking an Allergy Test, you can easily identify what you need to avoid and then take measures to reduce exposure. Since these allergens are present in your environment, knowing what they help you manage your interactions with them.
- Using medications: Your doctor will help prescribe asthma medication and even inhalers. Some allergy medicines can help relieve symptoms, like antihistamines, corticosteroids, and decongestants. For long-term effects, your doctor can prescribe immunotherapy.
- Have an action plan: An action plan helps you know when to take certain medications, what actions to take if the medications don’t work, and who to call in such a situation.
Final thoughts
An Allergy Test can help your asthma, especially if your allergy triggers also trigger your asthma attacks. Knowing what your allergens are helped you find a way to avoid contact or interaction that could result in allergy symptoms or an asthma attack. Your doctor will also prescribe medications to help you ease symptoms. Allergic asthma is very common, and you can live with this condition.
References
- Asllergy UK. Other health conditions related to asthma (https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/manage-your-asthma/other-conditions/#:~:text=How%20allergies%20affect%20your%20asthma,a%20life%2Dthreatening%20asthma%20attack.)
