Happy National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month, although those that suffer from Asthma and/or Allergies knows that happy is not what you would describe it as.
I was born with Asthma but did not develop heavy allergies until I was in my teens when I had a horrible allergy episode. It was not fun and has not been fun ever since. Suffering from Asthma is hard enough but when you have a double dose (Asthma & Allergies), life is down right miserable especially during allergy season. Unfortunately I passed that burden onto my son is also suffers from both. The only upside in that is, because I go through it, I can help him through it.. Let's first discuss Asthma...
There is no cure for asthma and allergies, and many deaths are preventable with proper treatment and care. Ten people a day die from asthma. Asthma affects 24 million Americans. And 6.3 million children under the age of 18 suffer from asthma.
Asthma Symptoms
Asthma symptoms are different for everyone and depend on the severity of the disease. Below are a few of the most common symptoms of asthma:
- Coughing, especially at night or when exercising
- Wheezing – a squeaky or whistling sound when you breathe
- Trouble breathing
- A tight feeling in the chest
Sometimes symptoms can be mild, whereas other times they can be serious enough to cause you to have to stop what you are doing. In very severe cases, asthma symptoms can be life threatening. During severe asthma attacks, the airways can narrow so much that not enough oxygen can get into the blood traveling to vital organs.
For me, at times I would get the coughing and most times I would get the tight feeling in my chest and back. Over the years I have learned how my body work and knows when it is time for a treatment or my Asthma pump.
Physical activity can trigger symptoms in most people with asthma. Symptoms may occur either during or right after being active. However, regular physical activity is important for your health. Many doctors recommend that most people, including people with asthma, get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. If asthma is under control, exercise should not be a problem. If you or your child experience asthma symptoms when participating in physical activity, you should work with your doctor to adjust your asthma treatment program.
Regardless of the severity of your asthma, it's important to remember that asthma inflammation is always present, whether you or your child is experiencing symptoms or not.
Environmental Asthma Triggers
- Air pollution
- Dust mites
- Mold (indoor and outdoor)
- Animal dander, saliva and urine
- Cockroach allergen
- Smoke from tobacco or burning wood or grass
Seasonal Asthma Triggers
- Tree, grass and weed pollen
- Extreme changes in air temperature
- Ozone alert days, which occur when temperatures pass 90 degrees and winds are less than 10 miles per hour
Airway inflammation can cause people with asthma to have persistent symptoms of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. They may also experience a flare-up or asthma "attack."
While asthma is commonly known to affect the large airways, many recent asthma studies have shown how inflammation of the small airways contributes to asthma symptoms too. If a long-term control medicine does not reach or treat both the large and small airways, underlying chronic inflammation may persist.
There are many irritants in the air, like bacteria, pollen and dust. People with asthma can be more sensitive to these irritants, or triggers, and their immune systems can overreact by releasing different cells and chemicals into the airways causing inflammation.
There are different ways to control Asthma and the above picture tells the different ways. Also be in mind that if you are asthmatic and get a bad cold it is best to NOT take over the counters drugs for colds because it does not help only hinders your health. I learned that the hard way. Finally a doctor informed me that the best medication is the asthma breathing treatment because it breaks down the mucous and opens up your airways. Try it next time, you will see it works wonders.
They go hand in hand.
Allergies are one of the most common chronic diseases. A chronic disease lasts a long time or occurs often. An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system sees a substance as harmful and overreacts to it. The substances that cause allergic reactions are allergens. When someone has allergies, their immune system makes an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies respond to allergens. The symptoms that result are an allergic reaction.
- 38 percent of adults with seasonal allergies felt that their symptoms were becoming more severe.
- Almost three out of four (74%) allergy sufferers had an idea what over-the-counter treatment options were available, but many didn't know what prescriptions were available (55%), what their allergy triggers were (37%), or how to help their allergy symptoms (36%).
- Only 47% of adults surveyed visited a doctor for advice or got a prescription for an allergy treatment from a doctor before allergy season.
- A large majority of parents of children with seasonal allergies (nearly nine-in-ten parents) worried about a severe allergy season more than their child's report card.
What Are the Types of Allergens?
- Drug (medicine)
- Food
- Insects that sting (bee, wasp, fire ant); bite (mosquito, tick); or are household pests (cockroach and dust mite)
- Latex
- Mold
- Pet (dog or cat urine, saliva and dander)
- Pollen
Good allergy treatment is based on your medical history and the severity of your symptoms. It can include three different treatment strategies: avoidance of allergens, medication options and/or immunotherapy (a treatment to train your immune system not to overreact).
The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid your allergens. It sounds so easy, but you can’t always avoid them. For example, it’s not possible to avoid all outdoor activities if you’re allergic to bees and wasps. But there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of being stung and you can carry the medicine you will need if you are stung. It is important to prepare and have an allergy action plan.
In closing, each year if you suffer from Asthma or Allergies or both please be sure to pay attention to your symptoms and your body and take care of you. Both can be very much life threatening.
~ Destiny Ashland
Big Sister On Point
Information obtained from - http://www.getsmartaboutasthma.com/
http://www.allergiesarentfunny.com/
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