The things that cause hay fever symptoms (typically items such as pet dander, pollen, and dust), could also trigger Allergic Asthma that causes the characteristic, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest.

Though asthma can be of other kinds; the sort triggered by exercise, cold air, infection and so on, the most common kind of asthma is the allergic kind.

According to allergy specialist James T. Li, M.D., the immunes system interprets otherwise benign substances to be inimical to the body and produces a protective reaction to repel those substances.

In the event, an allergic response in the form of a rash, or itchy or watery eyes, stuffy or runny nose etc is initiated.

Similarly, asthma symptoms are also triggered by the body’s mistaken reaction to a stimulus and results in the wheezing, and constriction of the airways.

What is also common between allergies and asthma is the fact that if a person has a family history of allergies or if a person themselves have allergies, they are more likely to have allergic asthma.

Since allergic asthma has a similar mechanism to allergies, some allergy medications can be used to treat it –

• As in the case of controlling and managing allergies, it is vital to identify triggers and avoid exposure to them. With both conditions, it is vital to know the condition well and how it changes over time. For this reason it is important to work closely with a doctor to control and manage the conditions as well as to keep a track of how the they change over time.
• Allergy shots or immunotherapy work in the case of allergy sufferers, by exposing the allergy sufferers to very small quantities of the allergen and then slowing increasing the amount to build up tolerance of the person to the allergen.
• Similarly the allergy shots can also help an asthma sufferer reduce the reaction that they have to triggers that cause their asthma attacks. Like allergies, allergic asthma also needs to be treated over a period of several years.
• Leukotriene modifiers such as Montelukast (Singulair) are oral medications that help control the immune chemicals that the body produces during a reaction. However owing to potentially serious side effects, this can only be taken under proper medical supervision.

According to research, air pollution can be responsible for worsening symptoms of problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as other serious lung conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

A study involving 53 thousand Danish adults observed over a 35 year period, found that those people who were seen to have the greatest exposure to traffic pollution were the most likely to develop COPD.

95% cases of COPD are due to smoking and other environmental factors, such as heavy exposure to dust from coal, grain or wood.

In another study conducted in Canada, it was found that antibiotics administered to infants in the first year of life could be responsible for causing asthma and allergies later in life.

According to researchers, antibiotics given to infants changed the intestinal bacteria in the gut, which may be responsible for health problems later in life.

Good gut bacteria or microbiota help to absorb nutrients and fight infection and the growth of this kind of bacteria could be impeded due to antibiotics in the earliest part of life, leading to problems later on.

According to a recent study, inhaling chemicals in common household sprays can cause a 20% increase in cases of asthma or wheezing.

According to Dr Jan-Paul Zock an occupational asthma expert from the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona, this study may help to make asthma preventable.

Since he his work causes him to examine occupational asthma closely, Dr Zock knows that those who work with cleaning materials, or whose work involves contact with cleaning materials such as janitors, cleaners, housekeepers and nurses are certainly more at risk.

Additionally it is important to see use of these materials in the home also contributes to asthma risk. Commonly used items such as bleach, solvents, ammonia, stain removers etc, being used more than once a week was seen by researchers as increasing asthma risk by over 20% over a period of time.

Dr. Jun Ma from Palo Alto Medical Research Institute in California conducted a study of 4,500 men and women in 2005-06 for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The Study Findings

The findings showed that two thirds of all people studied were either overweight or obese. Of these overweight or obese people, about 41 percent of them have allergies and 8 percent of them have asthma and of those who have asthma, it is related to their allergies.

While these findings are not in themselves high, the fact that out of the obese population which amounted to one third of the people in the study, 12 percent of them had asthma.

In addition, the people in the study also had a high incidence of Diabetes, which often occurs side by side with obesity or overweight people.

Scientists Still Not Sure Why

While these facts have linked the asthma and allergies to the obesity, the researchers and scientists still do not know why they are linked and some believe that it is related to Diabetes while others believe it is because the lungs become overweight just as the rest of the body does.

To stay healthy and limit risk of contracting asthma in the later years, maintaining a good and healthy body weight may be of help. Exercising and eating right can help with fighting obesity, however there are some who are prone to weight gain no matter what they do.

Source: Reuters

According to one study conducted by the department of psychiatry at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine in Baltimore, allergy sufferers are more prone to worsening mood, cognition and quality of life.

In spring as well as fall there is a spike in the amount of allergy causing pollen in the air, and it is these times of year that also experience corresponding spikes in suicide rates.

The researchers found that allergic people with mood disorders experienced a worsening of their mood condition when exposed to the allergen.

In another study reported by Reuters, work stress is seen to increase asthma risk. Stress can contribute to a number of health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and depression as well, and now it would seem that it increases the risk of developing asthma later as well.

Those who had high levels of work stress were twice as likely to develop asthma according to the study. While the work stress itself may not be the sole culprit, there is enough evidence to suggest that chronic stress may contribute to asthma development in some people.

Research centered on mast cells, a type of immune cell. When there are too many mast cells, the immune system reacts in an overly aggressive way, causing allergies and asthma.

By studying cells from mice, researchers have determined that there are certain cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) which begin the immune response, and which then end the immune response, keeping the immune response from being overly aggressive.

When these cytokines do not function properly, the mast cells continue to grow in number, leading to an overly aggressive immune response.

In the mice studied, the mice with allergies did not have proper amounts of these cytokines in their bone marrow to turn off their immune response, and showed an excessive number of mast cells.

The importance of this research is that it provides a new understanding of how allergies and asthma begin in the body.

Knowing how these illnesses begin will give researchers the opportunity to develop medications which treat the underlying cause of the illnesses, rather than merely managing the aller and asthma symptoms and sequela.

Now it appears that folic acid suppelments can also help reduce the symptoms of allergies and asthma.

Researchers looked at levels of folate in the blood together with markers in the immune system that increase in the presence of allergens.

People who had higher blood levels of folate showed fewer antibodies, reported fewer allergies, less wheezing, and fewer had been diagnosed with asthma.

Researchers will begin treating people with allergies and asthma with folic acid in an attempt to determine how folic acid provides this protection.

Until then, if you suffer from allergies or asthma, make sure you are getting adequate amounts of folic acid in your diet.

Many grain products, such as breakfast cereals and breads, are fortified with folic acid. Other ways to get more folic acid include dried beans and lentils, and dark green vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach.

A multi-vitamin supplement which contains 100% of the RDA of folic acid is good insurance that you are getting all the folic acid you need.

When ever you are exposed to the substances to which your body is sensitive, called allergens, your body immune system produces histamines.

Histamines are responsible in causing inflammations and allergies to your body.

In allergy induced asthma, these histamines mainly affect your bronchial passages and lungs due to which you can feel difficulty in breathing and respiration.

Is asthma linked with allergies?

Allergies are considered as the main sources for asthma. If you have allergic asthma, then inhaling allergen substances like pollen, dust mites which are invisible, molds and animal dander can mainly cause the inflammation.

When these allergens enter into the respiratory organs of your body, they will immediately try to trigger the inflammation with swelling of air passages, leading to asthma.

The linings of the nose are similar to the lining of your airways and these passages are more prone to the allergic inflammatory process. When the allergens enter into your body, immune system responds immediately and releases IGE antibodies.

These IGE antibodies are mainly responsible for the adverse allergic reactions like scratchy eyes, tightening of air passages and also itchy skin.

Apart from allergic asthma, the other forms and triggers of asthma include excessive exercises; some of non allergic infections like cold are also responsible for causing asthma.

How to protect your self and your children from allergy induced asthma?

• Try to be cautious whenever you are doing outside work like gardening. Raking and gardening can stimulate pollens [Controlling Pollen Allergies] and molds. If you are working in a yard, remember to wear a filter mask. This mask will prevent the pollen and mold to enter into your lungs by filtering process. Wearing a mask is really very useful in reducing the risk of allergy induced asthma.
• Try to avoid electronic air purifiers in your houses, as they can create ozone. Inhaling ozone is very dangerous for your body’s air passages. A HEPA air cleaner works very effectively in removing the dust and smoke from your room provided your fan is ON. The only disadvantage with these air cleaners is they can’t reduce the exposure of your house from dust mites.[Dust Mite Allergy]
• If you have pets, then regular allergen skin testing is highly recommended for better protection towards allergy induced asthma. Every one of you might love pets, but if they are allergic to your body, then it is very essential to keep them out doors or try to keep pet house for them. At least try to avoid pets in your bed room.
• Try to avoid unnecessary outside work when pollen count is more in the atmosphere and also remember to keep your windows and doors closed.
• Dust mites are invisible and mainly reside on the carpet, pillow covers and bed sheets. So, try to clean them regularly in order to avoid allergies.

The substances that can trigger allergic asthma include: dust mites, pet dander, cockroaches and mold.

In US, 60% of the people with asthma are suffering with allergic asthma.

How allergic asthma affects?

Airways of those who are suffering with allergic asthma are hypersensitive to the allergens to which they have become sensitized.

Immune system overreacts to these allergens when they enter into the airways. With this, muscles surrounding your airways become tight. So, the airways become inflamed and flooded by thick mucus.

How is allergic asthma different from other types of asthma?

Usually the symptoms of allergic asthma are same as those of non allergic asthma, such as coughing, wheezing, rapid breathing, shortness of breath and tightening of the chest.

The main difference between allergic asthma and some other types of asthma is what triggers the condition or what sets off the condition. The substances which trigger your condition are airborne allergens.

People with this condition can become sensitized to certain substances. This sensitization may take several exposures, while other times, it happens quickly. Once you become sensitized, it triggers your allergic asthma symptoms whenever you come into contact with it.

So, you need to identify and then avoid the triggers of your asthma and allergy for effective management of your condition. Thus you can attain asthma control.

Xolair add-on therapy for severe allergic asthma:

According to the experts, xolair helps to control asthma in patients with moderate to severe allergic asthma. Thus, it reduces the use of oral corticosteroids to manage acute asthma exacerbations.

Steroid bursts are used for your asthma control, but high use of these substances with frequent asthma conditions can lead to side effects and more number of hospital visits.

Xolair is an anti-IgE therapy, which offers an improved symptom control to the patients who live with potential life-threatening reactions.

Xolair therapy gives the potential to achieve a significant improvement in controlling and improving the patients’ lives who are continually suffering with this debilitating condition.

Xolair therapy blocks the action of IgE antibodies, which are the main cause of inflammatory symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, mucous production and airway constriction.

Xolair is for the patients who are older than 12 years, have moderate to continual asthma, having asthma condition which is triggered by year round allergens in the air and having continual asthma symptoms though you have taken inhaled steroids.

If you include xolair injections into your existing treatment program using inhaled steroids, you can reduce the asthma attacks that are experienced.

So, for long-term relief from allergic asthma, it is better to use xolair therapy.

Asthma triggers are many types, but the most common triggers are an allergy, respiratory infections, emotional stress, strenuous exercise, or nutritional products.

Today millions of Americans are suffering from allergies and asthma.

Allergies can make asthma symptoms worse, while not all people with allergies have asthma, and not all people with asthma have allergies.

If you have allergies particularly those that affect your nose and eyes then there is a greater chance to have asthma.

Allergies and asthma triggers:

If you have allergic symptoms or asthma then you are sensitive to triggers, including particles carried in the air. These triggers can affect your lungs and other parts of your body.

These triggers may be indoor or outdoor triggers. Some of those triggers which cause allergies and asthma include:

Allergens such as animal dander, dust mites, pollen, pollution, and mold spores. Some tiny particles that fall off hair, feathers or skin, and saliva from pets are also the triggers of allergies and asthma.

• Common cold, influenza, and some respiratory illness are also the triggers.
• Cold air is a very important trigger of allergies and asthma.
• Some of you are allergic to perfume, paint, hair spray, or any strong odors or fumes.
• For some others their allergies and asthma symptoms may get worse with tobacco smoke and wood smoke.

Asthma is one of the more serious problems that can be caused by work related allergy. It can cause symptoms that will be continued until the condition is treated. These symptoms include nighttime or early morning coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breathe and wheezing.

People who are suffering with allergies and asthma will have a reaction in their airways in addition to the usual allergy symptoms. Your airways become red, swollen, and filled with sticky mucus.

Home control to cure allergies and asthma:

All most all of us are becoming dependent on prescription medications. But if you have allergies and asthma you don’t have to use drugs to cure your condition. There are other solutions to relieve yourself of your allergies and asthma.

One of best options is curing your allergies and asthma naturally. Unlike prescription medications there are no side effects with natural cures. Another one is home control to reduce the triggers if allergies and asthma. [Relief for allergy and asthma]
Some of those are:

• Reduce as many triggers of allergies and asthma as you can.
• It is better to use air conditioners and air filters to make your home clean and more comfortable. But you need to maintain them properly.
• Remove dust mites from your bedroom as possible as you can do.
• Remove stuffed animals and stuffed furniture and also remove carpets from your bedroom.

Home control is the safest cure to get relief from allergies and asthma. It gives long term relief.