What Is The Best Treatment For Allergic Asthma

Buy A Vacuum With A Hepa Filter

HEPA filters aren’t just handy in the bedroom: They’re highly useful for sucking up pet allergens and mold spores, Parikh says. “A HEPA filter in the vacuum is key,” Ogden says. “Otherwise, you might as well not be vacuuming.” The filter helps ensure that allergens stay sealed in the vacuum, she explains without it, you may re-expose yourself to the allergens you’ve already sucked up. While any vacuum with a HEPA filter should do the trick, Ogden likes Shark vacuums, which have a double-sealed system to keep allergens locked away.

Different Types Of Asthma Medications

Many first-line controller and rescue medications are administered through asthma inhalers. Some of these inhalers are called metered-dose inhalers in which the inhaler itself propels the medication into the lungs. Other inhalers are activated by patients taking a breath, and these are called dry powder inhalers or breath-actuated inhalers. Different types of inhalers may work better for different individuals, but both types of inhalers are effective for asthma symptom control if used correctly.

Nebulizers are machines that allow asthma medications to be delivered in an aerosolized form, and the medications are then inhaled through a mouthpiece or mask. Nebulizers are often used for children who are unable to perform the proper technique required for inhalers. Some asthma medications are also available as pills. There are currently two injectable medications for asthma , and these are administered in a health-care setting only. There is also an intravenous medication for asthma . Within the near future, there will likely be additional asthma medications that can be administered either by injection or intravenously.

The cause of asthma is unknown. Physicians know more about the abnormal conditions that occur in asthma. These conditions include:

How Do Doctors Diagnose Allergic Rhinitis

When someone could have allergic rhinitis, doctors consider symptoms, find out about the persons everyday surroundings and activities, do a physical examination, check asthma control and check for allergies.

Tell your doctor:

• When your symptoms started and whether they have become better or worse over time
• Whether you usually have symptoms at particular times of the year
• If anything or any places seem to make symptoms better or worse
• If you have any known allergic conditions and whether family members have allergies
• If you have tried any medicines, such as overthe-counter nasal sprays or tablets, and whether they made a difference.

Your doctor may:

• Measure how well your lungs are working, using a spirometer, or arrange for you to have this test. If you normally test your own lungs using a peak flow meter each day, bring your results.
• Offer allergy tests either skin-prick tests or blood tests or arrange for you to have these tests done by a specialist. Other methods that claim to test for allergy are not useful tests and should not be used.
• Suggest that you try using a nasal spray for a few weeks and come back.
• Refer you to an allergy specialist or an ear, nose and throat surgeon.

You may need to see a specialist if you have any symptoms that are not typical of allergic rhinitis, such as long-term sinus problems, polyps in the nose, pain, loss of hearing or sense of smell, persistent cough, or if only one nostril is always blocked or bleeding.

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Best Treatments For Allergic Asthma

Did you know allergies affect approximately 60% of the over 25 million people in the US with asthma? This number makes it the most common type of asthma out there. Allergic asthma refers to asthma that gets triggered as a result of an allergic reaction. The allergic reaction is often due to airborne allergens, like pet dander, dust, mold, pollen, and more.

Allergic asthma is a chronic disease. Therefore, there is a need for consistent management. One of the ways to do so is to take precautions in exposing yourself to allergy triggers. If you are allergic to something, avoid exposure to reduce the chances of an allergic asthma attack. There are also many medications that can help treat allergic asthma. These medications work to reduce airway inflammation caused by the allergic reaction. Here are some ways you can treat allergic asthma:

Medications For Allergic Asthma

Taking steps to control allergens is likely to improve your symptoms. But you may still need allergy and asthma medications to treat attacks.

Try nasal allergy medications that donât make you sleepy, saline rinses, and nasal sprays . If these donât work, use nasal steroid sprays and stronger antihistamines. If none of this helps, it may be time to talk to a doctor about allergy shots.

There are many good asthma treatments, but most require a prescription. These medications include inhaled steroids, which fight inflammation, and bronchodilators, which open up your airways. If traditional treatments donât help your allergic asthma, Xolair, an injectable medication that reduces IgE levels, may help. Also, the long-acting anticholinergic medication called tiotropium bromide may be used in addition to your regular maintenance medications to help with symptom control. This medication can be used by anyone ages 6 years and older.

SOURCES:American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology: “What to expect at the doctor’s office,” “How to help your allergies and asthma,” “Allergic asthma information,” “Is your asthma allergic?” American Medical Association, Essential Guide to Asthma, 1998. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: “Asthma: How is Asthma Diagnosed?” “How is asthma treated?”Boehringer Ingelheim: “US FDA Expands Approval of Tiotropium Respimat® for Maintenance Treatment of Asthma in Children.”FDA. Prescribing Information: Spiriva Respimat.

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Asthma Attacks Are Increasing

If your asthma symptoms worsen or increase, its time to talk to your doctor. Increasing frequency or intensity of symptoms is a clear indication that your current treatment plan isnt working well enough.

A new treatment might help you better manage the condition. Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding allergens that trigger symptoms, can also make a significant difference.

There are several medications available to help treat and prevent allergic asthma flares. If you notice your symptoms getting worse despite taking your prescribed medications, talk to your doctor.

Some medications address both allergies and asthma. Your doctor may suggest:

• allergy shots to help reduce the immune systems response to allergens
• anti-immunoglobulin E therapy or other biologic medications, which help reduce allergic responses in the body that lead to an asthma attack
• leukotriene modifiers, another medication option that helps prevent allergic responses that trigger asthma attacks

Treat Your Allergic Asthma At Oak Brook Allergists

Although there are a lot of options on hand for treating allergic asthma, you cannot go about treatment alone. Talk to a doctor about what treatment will work best for you.

If you need guidance to manage your allergic asthma, Oak Brook Allergists is here to help. If you are living in or near Downers Grove, Naperville, Elmhurst, or Plainfield, Illinois, visit us to consult with our allergy specialists. To book your first appointment, call us at 574-0460.

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How Do I Manage Exercise

There is no cure for asthma triggered by exercising or sports. Treatment focuses on preventing and relieving symptoms.

To avoid an episode, you should warm up for at least six minutes before starting exercise. Ask your provider to recommend the best warmup routine for your age and fitness level.

Your provider may recommend one medication or a combination of several medications. Some drugs open your airways while youre experiencing exercise-induced asthma. Other medications prevent an episode. These medications include:

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Cats And Other Animals

Because of its small size, this allergen is predominantly an airborne, indoor type. Avoidance involves removing animals from the home , using dense filtering material over heating and cooling duct vents, and washing cats and dogs as often as twice weekly. Antigen may remain in a home for 6 months or more after cats are removed from the home, and cat antigen may be found in homes and offices where cats were never present, highlighting the importance of frequent cleaning.

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How Is Asthma Diagnosed

Your health care provider may use many tools to diagnose asthma:

• Physical exam
• Medical history
• Lung function tests, including spirometry, to test how well your lungs work
• Tests to measure how your airways react to specific exposures. During this test, you inhale different concentrations of allergens or medicines that may tighten the muscles in your airways. Spirometry is done before and after the test.
• Peak expiratory flow tests to measure how fast you can blow air out using maximum effort
• Fractional exhaled nitric oxide tests to measure levels of nitric oxide in your breath when you breathe out. High levels of nitric oxide may mean that your lungs are inflamed.
• Allergy skin or blood tests, if you have a history of allergies. These tests check which allergens cause a reaction from your immune system.

When To See An Allergist

An allergist can help you learn more about your asthma and develop a treatment plan that works for you. You should see an allergist if:

• Your asthma symptoms occur every day and often at night, limiting your activity.
• Youve had a life-threatening asthma attack.
• Your goals for asthma treatment havent been met after three to six months, or your doctor believes that you arent responding to current treatment.
• Your symptoms are unusual or hard to diagnose.
• You have conditions such as severe hay fever or sinusitis that complicate your asthma or your diagnosis.
• Additional tests are needed to find the causes of your symptoms.
• You need more help and instruction on your treatment plan, medicines or asthma triggers.
• Allergy shots might help you.
• You need oral corticosteroid therapy or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids.
• Youve taken oral corticosteroids more than twice in one year.
• You have been hospitalized because of your asthma.
• You need help to identify your asthma triggers.

Consultation with an asthma specialist is recommended if your child is 4 years old or younger and has asthma symptoms every day and three to four nights or more a month. It should be considered if your child has symptoms three days or more a week and one to two nights a month. Find out more about whats involved in asthma screening.

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What Are The Best Ways To Treat My Asthma And Hay Fever

Treating asthma and hay fever is important.

Hay fever can trigger asthma or make it worse, making it harder to breathe.

Having both asthma and hay fever also means you may risk of thunderstorm asthma. Learn more about asthma and hay fever here

Hay fever is sometimes called allergic rhinitis because it is an allergic condition. People often use several strategies to manage their asthma and allergies.

This usually includes:

People have told us that the cost of their medicine is a factor that makes it hard to always be consistent with their hay fever and asthma management. If this applies to you, ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are any cheaper options that are suitable.

Can Allergic Asthma Be Cured

Unfortunately, allergic asthma cannot be completely cured. However, the right treatment can drastically reduce the impact the condition has on your life or the life of your child. Working with an expert allergist can reduce the likelihood of a severe asthma attack, while also minimizing the main symptoms. In brief avoid allergens, take the medication prescribed by your doctor, and perhaps utilize immunotherapy treatment. These practices will minimize allergic asthma for most patients.

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Is There A Cure For Allergic Asthma

Theres no cure for allergic asthma. Therefore, its important to adhere to your treatments and follow your doctors advice.

Doing so can prevent severe complications, such as airway remodeling, which is permanent narrowing of the breathing passages. This complication affects how well you can inhale air in and exhale air out of your lungs.

How Are Inhalers Used To Treat Asthma

Many asthma medications are delivered using an inhaler or a nebulizer. Inhalers and nebulizers are devices that allow the asthma medications to be breathed in and go straight to the airways. There are four types of delivery devices:

• metered-dose inhaler : a pressurized device that releases medication in a fine spray for you to inhale
• slow-moving mist inhaler: similar to an MDI, with a slower-moving mist
• dry powder inhaler : releases medication as a fine powder for inhaling

Visit our online store to download our free respiratory treatment poster or purchase print copies. The respiratory treatment poster is an asthma medication chart that lists asthma inhalers by brand name as well as biologic medications used to treat asthma.

How to Use a Metered Dose Inhaler

How to Use a Slow-Moving Mist Inhaler

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Other Tips For People With Hay Fever

We recommend going to your doctor if you are experiencing any of hay fever.

Be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant, have other medical conditions, take other medications, or experience nose bleeds.

If your hay fever affects your asthma a lot, it may be worth asking your doctor for an allergy test. An allergy test will help you and your doctor pinpoint your triggers and adjust treatments and lifestyle advice to suit.

• tracking pollen monitoring in your area
• removing dust traps in the home like old curtains, carpets, and cleaning with damp cloths
• washing linen and bedding more frequently

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

You might make more mucus than normal when you have COPD. Your airways and air sacs can also stop working the right way. Thatâs because they get hurt or inflamed.

Smoking cigarettes is the most common cause. But it can happen because of air pollution, asthma, or your genes. You may hear COPD called emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

Other than a âsmokerâs cough,â there are other signs to watch for:

• Itâs easy to run out of breath.
• Doing something active makes you winded.
• Your lungs whistle or squeak.
• Your symptoms get worse with time.

Treatment can help ease your symptoms. But thereâs no cure for COPD. If you smoke, quit. You may also need to take medicine to help you breathe. Lifestyle changes might help, as well. Talk with your doctor if you think you may have COPD.

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Treatment Options For Allergic Asthma

Before the appropriate treatment can be identified and implemented, it is important to get allergy testing. Your allergist can then understand precisely what is causing your asthma attacks. Because avoiding the offending allergen can be a crucial first step, its important to pay attention to conditions in your home and the environments you spend time in. There are various medications that may be appropriate, and your doctor will discuss these options for you or your child.

If this approach does not reduce the allergic asthma symptoms, you may want to consider immunotherapy. Also known as allergy shots, this treatment is a process where the patient receives small amounts of the allergen to desensitize the immune system over time. The body gradually gets used to the presence of the allergen, and this tolerance reduces the chances of negative reactions.

Can Medicine Alone Help My Asthma

Not usually. Although medicines help a lot, they may not be able to do the job alone. You have to avoid the things that cause or trigger your asthma symptoms as much as you can. Asthma triggers can be found outside or inside your home, school, or workplace.

Improving the indoor air quality in your home is an important part of asthma control. Your indoor air can be more polluted than outside air. Our interactive Healthy Home can show you ways to improve the indoor air quality of your home. A healthier home can reduce your exposure to allergens and irritants.

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What Factors Should Patients Consider In Choosing And Using Otc Epinephrine Or Ephedrine

Despite the development of newer medications, epinephrine and ephedrine remain available as OTC medications. The choice of epinephrine or ephedrine should involve consideration of several factors. Most importantly, the asthma should be mild and less frequent, defined as occurring less than once per week and resolving almost immediately. It’s best to use OTC epinephrine or ephedrine under the guidance of a physician, if used at all. A patient should seek medical attention and prepare to switch to a prescription asthma medication in most cases, but especially if:

OTC ephedrine is available only as an oral medication in combination with guaifenesin as caplets, tablets, or syrup. Use caution when first starting these products since they occasionally irritate the airways of some patients and may make the asthma worse. OTC ephedrine should provide relief of symptoms within 15-60 minutes and may continue to be effective for three to five hours. Continued use of ephedrine, like frequent use of epinephrine, leads to tolerance.