Is Your Nose Making Your Asthma Worse
Up to four out of five people with asthma also have allergies like hay fever either at certain times of the year or all year round.
An itchy, runny or blocked nose due to allergies can make your asthma harder to control. If that sounds like you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Disclaimer
It is important to note that information contained in this brochure is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a medical practitioner.
Triggering A Fatal Reaction
Asthma triggers vary from person to person. Smoke, air pollution, exercise, weather, and fragrances or any allergen can cause an asthma attack. Asthma is chronic inflammation in the airways. If you have an allergic reaction, it can increase the inflammation, making it difficult to breathe.
Any allergen can cause a fatal asthma attack if exposure is high enough or the asthma is poorly controlled, Galowitz added.
The best way to prevent this is to keep your asthma under control by taking daily long-term control medicines and to avoid or reduce exposure to your allergens, Mendez added.
How Is Allergic Asthma Diagnosed
There are several tests that your healthcare provider can do to diagnose allergic asthma. To pinpoint allergies, your provider may do a blood test or a skin test. In these tests, your provider is looking for the effect of the allergens on your body. For a skin test, possible allergens may be applied to small areas of your skin to see how you react to each one. This can be uncomfortable, but it will show your provider what might be causing the reaction.
Your healthcare provider may also do a few tests to diagnose your asthma. These tests are used to make sure that its asthma thats causing your symptoms and no other medical condition. Tests to diagnose asthma can include:
If you have allergic asthma, your symptoms are typically triggers by something you breathe in. Determining what allergen triggered your symptoms is another part of the diagnosis process for allergic asthma. Try to keep a journal or notes of what happened when you experienced asthma symptoms. If you were outside by freshly cut grass, it could be a pollen allergy. If you were petting a dog, it could be pet dander. Figuring out what you inhaled when your symptoms started can help your provider create a plan to control your allergic asthma.
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What To Do If You Are Having An Asthma Attack
If someone is having a mild asthma attack, they may be able to treat it with asthma medication, such as a quick-acting inhaler. Some mild asthma attacks may even resolve on their own.
It is important that people with asthma talk with their healthcare team about an asthma action plan. This is a plan that guides people through how to treat their asthma, depending on the symptoms they are experiencing, and what to do in case of an asthma attack.
A person will need to carry a reliever inhaler with them, which may contain asthma medication to relax the muscles around the airways. These medications include short-acting, rapid onset beta-2 agonist and anticholinergic bronchodilators.
A person can first try dealing with an asthma attack by:
- using quick-relief medications, usually through a blue inhaler, and following their asthma action plan
In the case of a severe asthma attack, it is essential to seek medical help or call 911 immediately. While waiting for help, a person should continue to take their inhaler medication as the manufacturer outlines.
After an asthma attack, regardless of whether medical help was necessary, the following steps are important:
According to the American Lung Association, people will need to see their doctor at least once a year if they have asthma and more frequently if they have symptoms.
A person should contact their doctor straight away if they:
Anyone who experiences any of the following needs emergency medical help:
Pollen Allergies Throughout The Seasons
Trees and plants release their pollen throughout the year and some only release pollen during certain seasons. The amount and type of pollen also depends on where you live.
Trees such as hazel, birch, willow, oak, and elm release their pollen in the spring. Summer is the season for grass and weed pollen to be released.2 You may only feel pollen allergies during certain seasons because you may be allergic to specific grasses, weed, or trees.
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How To Prevent Future Asthma Attacks
Asthma attacks can be scary in the moment, but finding a treatment plan that works right for you can help manage your symptoms and prevent future emergencies.
- First, talk to your doctor. Your family doctor can help you monitor your asthma, find ways to manage symptoms day-to-day and check for underlying conditions that may make asthma worse.
- Know what triggers your symptoms. You can help prevent asthma attacks by avoiding respiratory irritants, allergens, and other triggers. Attacks can be set off by anythingfrom seasonal allergies to physical exercise to stressful emotions. Talk to your doctor if youre not sure what causes your symptoms or youre not sure how to avoid triggers.
- Always keep your rescue inhaler on hand. Dont leave home without your rescue inhaler even for short periods of time. Keep your medication up to date and stored in a dry place away from direct heat or cold. Dont store your inhaler in your car.
- Make an action plan with your family. If youre having an emergency, its important that those around you know what to do to help. Your loved ones should know where you keep your rescue inhaler, as well as who to call if youre experiencing an attack.
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What Does Anxiety Induced Asthma Feel Like
Anxiety induced asthma typically presents as wheezy breathing and tightness in the chest. This is not different from asthma that is not induced by anxiety. In fact, anxiety can trigger asthma, but it is not the cause of the asthma. Even if you dont have a history of asthma, anxiety can create this sensation in your body. This is because anxiety impacts the activity of your nervous system and the nervous system controls breathing patterns. Most people with anxiety disorders are not aware that their symptoms are not due to a physical problem. Knowing that anxiety can trigger these symptoms can be helpful in managing your anxiety..
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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.
What Are The Manifestations Of Coughing
Asthma cough reflex and throat clearing are common phenomenons. Usually, they go away on their own. Most people self treat and dont seek medical attention. However, sometimes these symptoms become chronic, which is defined as coughing or throat clearing that persists for 8 or more weeks. This is usually when people seek help. The best path to finding the best treatment options begins by seeing a doctor and getting a proper diagnosis.
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Mystery Of How Eating Causes Asthma Attacks
Many people ask the question How can eating something cause me to have an asthma attack in my lungs.
The answer is simple, but to understand this question, you first must gain an understanding of what asthma is. It is also essential to understand how asthma is developed and the difference between normal respiratory defence mechanisms for fighting foreign particle attacks in the lungs in comparison to what happens in an asthma attack.
Unlike other respiratory conditions like cystic fibrosis, COPD and Bronchiectasis, asthma is actually a hypersensitivity condition. An asthma attack is actually an immune response to enzymes, proteins and anti-enzymes released by a parasite or an antigen.
As a part of the bodys immune response in an asthma attack, apart from the standard respiratory responses of inflammation and excess secretion of mucus, the body also releases a number of immune chemicals including immunoglobulin E or IgE .
The release of IgE induces constriction of the smooth muscles around the outside of the airways, also known as Bronchoconstriction. This constricts the airways more and works towards helping to amplify the cough mechanism and expel the parasite from the lungs.
We have similar defence systems in other parts of our bodies, including the large and small intestines of our digestive system. All of these systems are connected through our circulatory system where the immune system works its magic. Let me explain this further and how it all works.
What Can I Do To Manage My Condition If It Is Triggered By Weather
Now obviously, you cannot control the weather, so the best thing you can do is just be prepared for it. What this means is that you should try to keep your condition well-managed by using the medication prescribed by the doctor in accordance with official guidelines, attending regular check-ups and keeping an eye on the weather forecast for your area.
One of the most common weather asthma triggers is cold air when breathed in, the sudden change of temperature within the lungs can have a sudden negative impact on the airways which can go into acute spasm, causing a rather severe and dangerous asthma attack.
This is why it is very important to keep warm and dry during the colder months, while having your reliever inhaler close by at all times. Loosely wrapped scarf around your nose and mouth can be surprisingly effective in warming up the air. In addition, you should also rely on the natural mechanism of preventing the cold air from reaching the lungs without being warmed up beforehand by simply breathing through your nose.
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Deterrence And Patient Education
Patients should be educated about asthma concerning the use of medications. They should understand how to take medications and also the differences between quick-acting medications and maintenance medications such as inhaled corticosteroids.
Patients should also be encouraged to use an asthma action plan, so they understand when their symptoms are severe, and they need to contact a physician or go to the emergency room.
The asthma APGAR tools in primary care practices have been shown to improve rates of asthma control and reduce emergency room and urgent care visits.
How Do You Know If You Are Having An Asthma Attack
An asthma attack happens when the body is exposed to a triggerlike pollen or smokethat causes the airways to become inflamed and swollen.
Asthma attacks are uncomfortable to experience and can be frightening, especially for children. If you or someone you know is having any of the following symptoms, they may be having an asthma attack:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest tightness or pain
- Coughing or wheezing
An asthma attack may go away after a few minutes with proper treatment, but symptoms can last longer and become life-threatening if untreated. Seek medical attention immediately if you or someone you know is having a severe asthma attack with one or more of the following symptoms:
- A feeling of panic about the asthma attack
- Pale and sweaty face
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Exercise Sex And Physical Activity
People affected by exercise-induced asthma can experience an asthma attack as a result of intense physical activity. But even for others, increased heart rate can sometimes lead to exacerbation of symptoms. During exercise or sexual activity, breathing usually becomes heavier. In ordinary circumstances, the inhaled air will get warmed up in the nose prior to entering the lungs, but, during physical activity of any kind, most people breathe through mouth, causing colder and dryer air to enter the organism. Asthmatics commonly react to these changes, so its important to be aware of them.
How This Attack Leads To Asthma From Food
Now, youre probably asking how everything above relates to eating food and getting an asthma attack.
Well, the outcome for developing asthma from the 1st attack from this type of parasite, the way the body reacts to the invasion determines how the bodys adaptive immune system is set up for all future attacks.
In the case of asthma, the adaptive immune system develops memory cells for employing this defence mechanism for this type of parasitic or allergen attack for all future attacks. If the body has no further attacks in a set period of time , then the memory cells may be discarded as they arent considered to be needed, but if you receive another in the next couple of years, then the memory cells are retained.
This is similar to a vaccine needing to be delivered multiple times for effectiveness.
Because the defence mechanism is based in the immune system, which works hand in hand with the circulatory system, it affects the whole body, not just 1 or 2 organs.
So every time that secretions from this type of parasite are experienced in any part of the body which employs a similar defence mechanism , then any part of the body can experience an effect, similar to an asthma attack for this part of the body as well as others.
Some examples include:
References
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Can A Child Have An Asthma Attack While Sleeping
Asthma symptoms at night are extremely common. In fact, many people with asthma experience nighttime symptoms at least once a week and some every night. This is commonly referred to as nocturnal asthma. It shouldnt be surprising when you think about asthma triggers, however. Remember indoor allergens are a common trigger for an asthma attack, so sleep is primetime for exposure to these allergens. For children with asthma, it is essential to reduce their exposure to environmental triggers and teach them how to recognize asthma symptoms.
Pollen Asthma Can Be Treated Effectively
If your asthma is triggered by pollens and is worse in spring and summer, see your doctor for advice. It is important to have a current asthma action plan and regularly use preventer medication to manage symptoms.
How to protect from thunderstorm asthma?
Thunderstorms are common in spring so if you have allergic rhinitis try to stay inside just before, during and just after thunderstorms, and on high pollen days.
See your doctor to make sure that allergic rhinitis is well treated.
If you experience symptoms of asthma such as chest tightness, wheeze, shortness of breath, or cough, see your doctor for a plan to manage asthma.
Use preventer medication every day, particularly if high pollen counts or thunderstorms are predicted.
ASCIA is the peak professional body of clinical immunology/allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand.
ASCIA resources are based on published literature and expert review, however, they are not intended to replace medical advice. The content of ASCIA resources is not influenced by any commercial organisations.
For more information go to www.allergy.org.au
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Grass Pollen Can Be Wind
Grasses rely on wind to spread pollen grains. Pollen counts will be highest near the source, but strong winds can spread pollen grains over long distances.
Intact pollen grains are usually trapped in the upper airways and do not reach the lungs. Other allergen carrying particles can carry grass and tree pollen allergens. Unlike intact pollen, smaller particles can reach the small airways of the lungs and trigger asthma attacks.
What Can I Do To Protect Myself This Pollen Season
Epidemic thunderstorm asthma events are uncommon and dont occur every year. However, its important for everyone in south-east Australia to know about epidemic thunderstorm asthma and what they can do to help protect themselves if an event does occur.
Everyone in the community should also know the signs and symptoms of asthma, and know the 4 steps of asthma first aid so they know what to do if someone is having an asthma attack.
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Who Can Get Asthma
Anyone can develop asthma at any age. People with allergies or people exposed to tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke are more likely to develop asthma.
Statistics show women tend to have asthma more than men, and asthma affects Black Americans more frequently than other races.
When a child develops asthma, healthcare providers call it childhood asthma. If it develops later in life, its adult-onset asthma.
Children do not outgrow asthma. They may have fewer symptoms as they get older, but they could still have an asthma attack. Your childs healthcare provider can help you understand the risks.
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