Asthma is a condition that affects the lungs and leads to symptoms like wheezing, breathing difficulties, tightness in the chest. People with asthma often have bouts of coughing at night, or early in the morning.
People with family history of asthma are more likely to suffer from this condition. While asthma may be caused due to genetic factors, which is why it is common in children, however, it may also be acquired later in life, which is also referred to as allergic asthma.
When the asthma attack is triggered, it can lead to breathing distress. In this condition, the airway becomes constricted, making it harder for the air pass. Moreover, mucous also clogs the airway, further making breathing harder.
In a case of asthma attack, patients then need to take medication, mostly an inhaler. But if it aggravates, some people might also need to visit the emergency. Since there is no way to treat asthma, the only way forward is by avoiding the triggers and following the instructions of the Best Pulmonologist in Lahore.
What is allergic asthma?
Allergic asthma, as the name also suggests, is a condition that connects allergies and asthma. When a person comes in contact with an allergen, their body then undergoes an asthma attack. Consequently, the body produces more mucous, the air ways become narrower, and body also undergoes inflammation.
Symptoms of allergic asthma including coughing, due to the onslaught of mucus. Moreover, it also leads to shortness of breath, as the airways constrict and make breathing challenging. Likewise, people also experience wheezing in such a state.
Furthermore, allergic reaction also leaves it hallmarks, including runny or stuffy nose, watering of the eyes, sneezing and appearance of hives.
What are common allergens?
Body can experience different types of allergic reactions, depending on the allergen. For example, if you are allergic to mushrooms, the effects will be gastrointestinal. Similarly, when you experience respiratory allergens, the effects manifest in the form of breathing problems, and some may also involve the skin.
People may be allergic to multiple things or have one common trigger. One common allergen is pollen; often it is the grass and weed pollen that leads to the reaction. Moreover, some people might also be allergic to pets, because of their hair or dead skin, which are then grouped together under the category of dander.
Similarly, mold, a type of fungus, can also lead to allergic asthma. Amongst the living creatures that cause allergic reaction are dust mites and cockroaches. Not only do these creatures themselves cause the reaction, but their bodily fluids and excretions can also be a source of allergic asthma.
What are the treatment options?
You can only manage the disease, but not treat it. The steps commonly performed for better disease management include:
Know your triggers
The most important thing to do is to know your triggers. When you work out what is causing the allergic asthma, only then can you avoid the triggers and prevent the attacks.
For incorrigible factors like pollen, there is not much you can do except avoid contact. For issues like mites and cockroaches, you can seek help from an exterminator.
Similarly, you can avoid places where you know you can run into pets.
Know your treatment
It is also pertinent to be familiar with your medication. You need to find the medicine which suits best to you. Not every medication will be a good fit for you.
Therefore, work out with you doctor which inhaler you are most comfortable using and which pill is most effective in abating your symptoms.
Know how to tackle an attack
It is easy to panic in case of an attack. Hence, work with the Best Pulmonologist in Karachi in making a game plan; where you will be keeping your medication, your emergency contact, your go-to hospital in case medication is not available or fails.