Can Food Allergies Cause Asthma Attack

Does Your Cat Have Allergies How To Recognize And Manage Feline Allergies

Its officially spring, and flowers and trees everywhere are letting us know it. If youre like me, youre already reaching for the antihistamines and stocking up on kleenex all while cursing the reproductive cycle of our planets plant life. And your cat might be in awful discomfort right there with you.

Thats right: cats can suffer from seasonal allergies, too! They can also suffer from food and flea allergies. If you think youre miserable with hay fever, at least you know whats going on. Your cats rely on you noticing somethings up and helping them get through all the awful symptoms allergies have to offer.

What Are Asthma Triggers

Asthma triggers are things in your environment that cause worsening of asthma symptomsor asthma attacks. Triggers can be anywhere, and avoiding triggers that are under your control will help you be better prepared to deal with triggers that are more difficult to avoid like pollen, smog and viruses.

Triggers often bring on asthma attacks. It is important to avoid your triggers in order to keep airway inflammation to a minimum and reduce your asthma symptoms. Your personal triggers can be very different from those of another person with asthma. Knowing what your triggers are is an important part of managing your asthma.

Taking steps to ensure your asthma is properly managed is the key to living a symptom-free life. Speak with your healthcare provider about taking a controller medication, creating an Asthma Action Planand proper inhaler technique. Since some asthma triggers are impossible to avoid, its important to always carry your reliever medication with you just in case of a trigger causing an asthma attack.

Prevention Of Asthma And Food Allergy

Besides early introduction of food allergens and optimal treatment of the skin barrier, there is not much evidence for preventive interventions for the development of food allergy and asthma. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and house-dust mite avoidance were suggested, but in studies, there turned out to be no effect . A Cochrane analyses reported little evidence for dietary intake or fish oil in order to improve asthma control . In addition, a study with maternal supplementation of fish oil during pregnancy did not show an effect on the progression of IgE-mediated allergic disease from 1 to 6 years of age . Furthermore, very low evidence was found in a recent systematic review that studied the effect of vitamin D supplementation in pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and infants on developing atopic diseases .

Breastfeeding remains the best advice for young babies according to the World Health Organization guidelines, but it does not appear to have a protective effect on the development of food allergy and asthma . However, delaying introduction of food by exclusively breastfeeding can result in a higher risk for a food allergy .

Altering the microbiome has been shown to have an effect on allergic diseases like food allergy however, results are contradictive in different studies and studies are difficult to compare because of unequal methods . Therefore, more studies are needed to analyze interventions of the microbiome on the prevention of food allergy and asthma.

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What You Can Do To Avoid Triggers

In addition to properly managing your asthma with medications, its important to know what your asthma triggers so that you can avoid them.

• Speak with your doctor about having an allergy test done. Write down what you are allergic to and learn how to avoid or reduce your allergen exposure.
• Use an Asthma Action Plan and an asthma diary or journal to keep track of your asthma symptoms and what triggered them. Review your findings with your healthcare provider to determine your asthma symptoms.

Once you have a clear idea of the things that make your asthma worse, take action and make plans to control your exposure to these triggers. Some triggers will be difficult to avoid , but many of them are avoidable. Start with your own home, and its indoor asthma triggers many of us spend a lot of time at home and its environment is under your immediate control.

Here are some tips for controlling your home environment:

Here are some tips for avoiding triggers outside your home:

What Allergies Cause Asthma

Inhaled allergens. The most important allergens for people with allergic asthma appear to be those asthma triggers that are inhaled. Hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis occurs when a person comes in contact with an allergen or a substance that they are sensitive to. Common inhaled allergens include:

• Animal dander
• Mold
• Pollen

Medical experts recommend that all people with allergies and asthma try to identify possible inhaled allergens that may trigger asthma symptoms.

If you can avoid coming in contact with the substance you are allergic to , you may be able to prevent symptoms of an asthma attack.

Food allergies. Food allergies rarely cause asthma, yet they can cause a severe life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. The condition can lead to symptoms that include trouble breathing, wheezing, an itchy rash, low blood pressure, and vomiting. The most common foods linked with allergic symptoms are:

• Eggs
• Tree nuts
• Soy
• Fish
• Shrimp and other shellfish

Food preservatives can also trigger allergic and asthmatic reactions. Additives, such as sodium bisulfite, potassium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, and sodium sulfite, are often used in food processing or preparation and may be found in foods such as:

• Dried fruits or vegetables
• Potatoes
• Wine and beer
• Bottled lime or lemon juice
• Shrimp
• Pickled foods

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Air Fresheners And Scented Candles

Scented candles and indoor air fresheners can make your house smell extra fresh, sweet, floral, or earthy but they may be doing more harm than good when it comes to your health, the ACAAI notes. “We know that the fragrances from air fresheners trigger allergy symptoms or aggravate existing allergies in a lot of people,” Dr. Tuck says. Perfume and flower scents are particularly likely to irritate sensitive airways, according to the results of research by a Swedish team published in the January 2016 issue of the International Journal of Environmental Health Research.

— Additional reporting by Madeline Vann, MPH

Does Allergic Asthma Go Away

Some people think you can outgrow asthma, but this isnt really true. Asthma can cause airway remodeling, so even if your symptoms subside over time, you dont really outgrow it.

However, some people do outgrow certain allergies or rather their body doesnt have as strong of an allergic response. You may believe that your allergic asthma is going away, but think of it more like being in remission. Even after years without symptoms, an allergen exposure can trigger an allergic asthma attack.

Conversely, there is also increasing awareness that allergies and allergic asthma can develop in adulthood.

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Why Do Cats Get Allergies

But why does my cat have to suffer?! I hear you crying, because I have said the same thing when Tiger Jack gets acne on his chin or my brothers kitty Nyx gets hives around his nose.

The answer is that sometimes our bodies our immune systems decide a certain substance is dangerous and attacks that substance whenever we inhale it or eat it or get it into our system some other way. Thats true for us and for our feline friends!

We cant control how our body responds to something, but we can control our exposure to likely allergens. Outdoor cats are more likely to be allergic to pollinating plants than indoor cats are because theyre exposed to them more often. The best thing we can do for our kitties is to be observant and to be proactive.

Do for your cats what youd do for yourself, and well all be on track to a less-itchy world!

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What Is Allergic Asthma

Allergies, Asthma, News

Asthma and allergies are two distinctly different conditions. But you may find they are often discussed together. It is important to know that people with asthma dont always have allergies. And people with allergies dont always have asthma. But there is a good reason for this marriage of terms.

Asthmais a respiratory disease characterized by inflammation and bronchospasm . When the lining of the airways becomes swollen and clogged with mucus and fluid, it can lead to airway inflammation. When the muscles around the airways tighten and contract, attempting to keep the airways open, this is bronchospasm. This leaves patients with cough, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. When breathing issues become severe, this is referred to as an asthma attack, flare or exacerbation.

People with allergic diseases have an overactive immune system. Their immune systems react to normally harmless substances. This is known as an allergic reaction. It can involve many different symptoms. Common allergens include:

• pollen

People with allergic asthma may also experience common allergy symptoms:

• Runny nose, usually with clear or pale-colored mucus
• Red, watery eyes
• Itching around the nose, mouth, or eyes

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Food Chemicals That May Cause Asthma

Intolerance to food chemicals is dose-related, which means the symptoms get worse as more of the chemical is ingested.

Some of the food chemicals that are known to trigger asthma in susceptible people include:

• sulphites such as sulphur dioxide and sodium metabisulphite. These additives are often used in processed foods as preservatives. Common sources include wine, fruit juices, canned fish and dried fruit
• food colourings such as the yellow food dye tartrazine. Food colourings very rarely trigger asthma attacks. Generally, if a person with asthma reacts to one food colouring, they should make sure to avoid eating any food colourings
• monosodium glutamate this is a naturally occurring chemical, frequently used as an additive to enhance flavour, particularly in savoury snack foods. Foods that contain high concentrations of MSG include stock cubes, gravy, soy sauce and packet soups. Hydrolysed vegetable protein is sometimes added to foods in place of MSG, and may trigger asthma in people who are sensitive to MSG
• salicylates naturally occurring salicylates are also present in many foods, including instant coffee, soy sauce, tomato paste and sauce, beer and honey. The drug aspirin is also a salicylate. Other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may also trigger dangerous attacks in people who are sensitive to aspirin. Around five to 10 per cent of people with asthma are sensitive to salicylates.

Foods That Can Trigger Asthma

Did you know that eating certain foods may trigger your asthma? If your body is sensitive to particular food-related allergens, you might suffer an asthma attack as your immune system fights back. Its smart to take a look at your diet to improve your symptoms.

Take a look at eight foods that can trigger asthma.

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Asthma And Food Allergy In Children: Is There A Connection Or Interaction

• Clinica Pediatrica, Department of Clinica and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

This review explores the relationship between food allergy and asthma. They can share the same risk factors, such as parental allergy, atopic eczema, and allergen sensitization, and they often coincide in the same child. Coexistence may negatively influence the severity of both conditions. However, it remains to be determined whether food allergy may directly affect asthma control. An early food sensitization in the first year of life can predict the onset of asthma. Furthermore, asthmatic symptoms could rarely be caused by ingestion or inhalation of the offending food. Asthma caused by food allergy is severe and may be associated with anaphylactic symptoms. Therefore, an accurate identification of the offending foods is necessary in order to avoid exposure. Patients should be instructed to treat asthmatic symptoms quickly and to use self-injectable epinephrine.

Allergic Asthma Vs Non

You may be asking, What is the difference between allergic asthma and non-allergic asthma? After all, the symptoms are similar. It turns out the main difference is the cause of symptoms.

For people with allergic asthma, an outdoor or indoor allergen may trigger symptoms. For a person with non-allergic asthma, there may be other triggers. These triggers include smoke, pollutants, exercise, viruses, and many other things. Interestingly, a person with allergic asthma may experience intensified symptoms from these triggers.

People with allergic asthma will require treatment for their asthma symptoms, similar to non-allergic asthma, but they may also require treatment for their allergies.

It is believed that allergic asthma is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Genetics often play an important role in the development of asthma. Having a family member with asthma or allergies increases the risk of asthma. So understanding your family medical history is important.

What are some other key differences between people with allergic asthma compared to people with non-allergic asthma? Researchers have learned that people with allergic asthma are usually younger and more likely to have positive skin allergen testing than people with non-allergic asthma. People with non-allergic asthma are more likely to be female and develop more severe disease than those with allergic asthma.

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How To Reduce Exposure To Mold

If you or another family member suffers from a mold allergy, youll want to do what you can to avoid mold and asthma dangers. Here are some tips for doing just that:

• Consider using faux plants instead of real plants, as they have a higher likelihood of developing mold.
• If you must have real plants in the home, water them only when the soil gets mostly dry. Overwatering could cause mold to develop.
• Keep basements and bathrooms uncarpeted, as mold is more likely to grow in the rugs.
• If you spot mold in any carpets or upholstery, dont try to clean them yourself. Have them professionally serviced or replace them to ensure mold is fully eliminated.
• For other surfaces that have been exposed to mold, use water and bleach, with one part bleach to 10 parts water. If mold gets too deep into the drywall, cleaning it may not be enough. You may need to get new drywall.
• Prioritize the maintenance of ventilation in your home, especially exhaust fans in rooms that get humid.
• Remember to check your humidity so it never exceeds 50 percent.
• Items like humidifiers and vaporizers can produce too much moisture and humidity. Its recommended you try to limit your vaporizer use or even discontinue operating yours.

Mold requires moisture to grow. Therefore, common places to find indoor mold are bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Areas that have been exposed to leaks, floods, or poor ventilation are more susceptible to mold growth.

How Asthma Attacks Happen

When you have an asthma attack, your airways narrow and it gets hard to breathe. This can result from spasms of the muscles around the airways, inflammation and swelling of the mucosal membrane that lines them, or high amounts of mucus inside them. You might have shortness of breath, wheeze or cough as your body tries to get rid of mucus.

Why do you have asthma and your friend doesn’t? No one knows for sure. Allergies play a role for many people, as do genetics.

If you or a loved one has asthma, it’s important to understand what your triggers are. Once you figure that out, you can take steps to avoid them. As a result, youâll have fewer and less severe asthma attacks.

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Food And Food Additives Trigger Asthma

Food allergies can cause mild to severe life-threatening reactions. They rarely cause asthma without other symptoms. If you have food allergies, asthma can be part of a severe, life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. The most common foods associated with allergic symptoms are:

• Eggs
• Salads
• Fresh fruits

Food preservatives can trigger isolated asthma, especially sulfite additives, like sodium bisulfite, potassium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, and sodium sulfite, which are commonly used in food processing or preparation.

Symptoms And Signs Of Asthma

Children with respiratory problems and lung inflammation make easy victims for asthma in the future. There are some common symptoms of asthma, such as coughing, tightness in the chest, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The frequency of asthma attacks differ from one person to another. The asthma symptoms may become severe during a particular season and can be caused by certain pollutants. During spring, the pollen in the air can trigger asthma symptoms. The various signs and symptoms of asthma are:

• Whistling sound during breathing
• Coughing late at night and in the dawn
• Chest pain with tight feeling
• Breathing problem that makes the patient out of breath

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How To Avoid Foods That May Cause Asthma

How Do You Know It’s a Trigger?

If you think that a certain food is triggering your asthma signs and symptoms, you should consult your healthcare provider. There are certain skin tests which will help you relieve an allergy to a specific food type.

Whatâs the Best Way to Reduce the Risk of the Trigger Affecting You?

If you do know that you are allergic to a certain food and if you have revealed such an allergy with a skin prick test, then you should completely avoid it for the rest of your life. It is also very important to recognize the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction on time, especially in cases of severe and even life-threatening allergic reactions.

Foods that cause asthma should be avoided if you want to manage its signs and symptoms as good as possible. If your healthcare provider has prescribed you medications for your asthma, donât forget to take them regularly on a daily basis just as prescribed. Remember that by taking your medications regularly, you are less likely to have an asthma attack even if you do not come in contact with a specific food allergen that you know you are allergic to.

Other Tips That Could Help

Here are some tips that can help you avoid foods that cause asthma and asthma attacks: