Allergies alone can make anyone miserable with its host of symptoms like constant sneezing and itchy eyes. However, there are times when triggers can do more than just flare up your allergies but also wreak more havoc on your health in the form of asthma. Allergic asthma is the most common type of asthma, and it occurs when you develop wheezing, sneezing, and shortness of breath all at once. Read on to learn more about this condition and how to best manage its combined symptoms.
Allergic asthma defined
Simply put, allergic asthma is when allergies and asthma combine into one health issue, causing your airways to tighten up whenever you breathe in allergens. One thing in common among all the various allergens that can trigger allergic asthma is that they are found in the environment and never in food or medications. These include things like:
- Pollen
- Mould
- Pet dander
- Dust
- Dust mites
- Cockroaches
If mould or pollen are your triggers, allergic asthma could develop only seasonally. However, if dust, dust mites, or pet dander are the culprit, you may experience symptoms all year round.
Symptoms of allergic asthma
As a refresher, hay fever or allergic rhinitis affects the nose and sinuses, with the main symptoms being:
- Nose congestion
- Sneezing
- Itchy eyes
In contrast, asthma affects the lungs and thus causes the following symptoms:
- Coughing
- Chest tightness
- Wheezing
- Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
Having allergic asthma means developing all of the symptoms above simultaneously.
Treating and managing allergic asthma
Allergy testing is the best way to identify the cause behind your allergy flare-ups, while additional testing can verify a diagnosis of asthma. Once it is confirmed that you have allergic asthma, knowing and avoiding your triggers is vital to keep your symptoms under control.
Consider the following protective measures to reduce your allergen exposure in and out of your home.
1. Use an air purifier fitted with HEPA or high-efficiency particulate air filters to clean your indoor air of airborne triggers.
2. Minimise or eliminate pet exposure as much as possible.
3. Put special dust mite covers on your bedding and aim for a 35% indoor humidity level to reduce your dust mite exposure.
4. Remove food sources for cockroaches and regularly clean the surfaces and flooring of your kitchen and dining area.
5. Change your clothes and shower right after coming home to prevent pollen from spreading into your home.
When dealing with mould, it can also develop indoors despite being more of an outdoor allergen due to unwanted sources of moisture. Common areas where moisture can develop include places where there is plumbing and leaks in the roof. If there are sources of water intrusion present, address the leak first and then use either a commercial cleaning product or a diluted bleach solution to clean out the mould.
Conclusion
Having allergies and asthma at the same time certainly sounds like a rough time. Still, thankfully, modern allergic asthma treatments are very effective, easy to use, and have minimal side effects. With the right medication, allergic asthma will not put you out of commission, so you can continue with your daily life.
If you need help curing your allergic asthma, consult a virtual doctor in Singapore today via the MYCLNQ app. We provide comprehensive family healthcare with services such as online medical consultation, private ambulance transport, and medical e-commerce straight from your mobile devices. For more details, don’t hesitate to contact us today!