About Allergic Asthma
What is Allergic Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways or bronchial tubes that causes the airways to swell and become narrow. The result is difficulty in breathing.
Asthma has different facets, each of them equally complicated and tangled with their own set of sufferings and remedies to cure them.
Allergic asthma is the most common type of asthma and typically develops in childhood but it can be pretty hard to treat. This kind of asthma can be caused by exposure to allergens such as:
- Dust mites
- Tobacco smoke
- Pollens
- Molds
- Animal dander
- Certain chemicals
- Vigorous exercise
- Sudden temperature changes
- Different foods
Phases of allergic asthma
Allergic asthma generally starts during early childhood and is accompanied by several allergies. Usually there is also a family medical history of allergies. The main symptoms of allergic asthma in this phase are:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Chest tightness
The second phase is generally during early adulthood and for some reason the attacks tend to decrease or even disappear.
The third phase develops during adulthood. This is when the attacks come back with more strength. This is especially true if the asthma wasn't treated properly during childhood. If a person suffered asthma in his childhood, there is a 75% probability that it will appear again during adulthood, so it is very important to follow a good and responsible treatment at every stage. When asthma comes back, it returns in a more aggressive way, making it more difficult to treat since symptoms are often more chronic.
The importance of medicating
Even though this condition is very hard to cure and there isn't a definitive remedy, there are medications according to the complications and gravity of the condition in each individual to ease the attacks.
For mild allergic asthma, the main remedy would be 2 puffs of inhaled albuterol or Xopenex daily for 4 – 6 hours using an inhaler, or alternatively, you could also give oral albuterol.
In some cases, for example seasonal asthma, prevention is to be considered. In this case, the person gets the attacks during a particular season of pollen and plants which the person is allergic to. Indoor triggers are much easier to avoid.
Food allergies can even lead to reflux problems.
For moderate allergic asthma, your doctor may suggest:
- Inhaled albuterol or Xopenex
- a Nebulizer
- Oral steroid liquid or pills
- Maintenance therapy
- Salmeterol or Foradil as an alternative to the albuterol.
Be aware of how important it is to begin an early treatment and always consult with your doctor or health insurance representative about any problem you may have with your drugs.