How Allergies and Asthma are Related

Did you know that close to 50 million Americans suffer from at least one form of inhalant allergy? Moreover, did you know that 25 million Americans suffer from asthma? Though surprising, there are even more shocking facts about the relationship between allergies and asthma.

There is a strong correlation between allergies and asthma. People who suffer from allergies can develop asthma, and those living with asthma can experience increased symptoms due to environmental allergies. The two conditions are closely related, and understanding the connection can help keep both under control.

Every human being has one respiratory system, divided into upper and lower compartments. Your upper respiratory compartment includes the nose, pharynx (throat), and the upper part of the trachea (windpipe). The lower part contains the rest of the trachea, the bronchi, and the lungs. The entire airway is connected. Every time you take a breath, air goes through the entire system to the lungs, where the blood carries oxygen to the rest of your body.

If you think about it, it makes sense that whatever affects the upper part of the respiratory system. For example, allergens like dust, mold spores, and pollen affect the upper part of the system, and in turn affect the lower part. This realization led scientists to believe that there is a connection between upper airway disease (allergies) and lower airway disease (asthma).

The mechanism of such a connection is not yet fully understood, but numerous pieces of evidence suggest the link is legitimate. You can’t change your genetics to control your asthma, and sometimes it is impossible to avoid allergens. But, understanding this link can help you gain enough knowledge to prevent triggers and live with decreased symptoms.

Mechanism of Asthma

An asthmatic attack means that the lower part of the airway gets congested, both by the secretion of mucus and the contraction of the lower airway muscles. It leads to shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and sometimes bluish lips or loss of consciousness.

Mechanism of an allergic attack

Allergic attacks work differently. They are your body’s response to allergens through the action of your immune system. If you have allergies, your immune system is constantly in hyperdrive. It considers a naturally harmless substance like pollen to be a foreign attacker on the body, triggering the allergic response.

This response manifests through the known signs and symptoms of allergy. These symptoms are usually mild including, itching, redness, swelling, runny nose, and sneezing. In some cases, the symptoms are more severe, including anaphylaxis, and can even be fatal.

How are Asthma and Allergy related

Recent studies have revealed that asthma and allergy are often related and interchangeable, in that a person suffering from allergies can also develop asthma and vice versa.

A person living with asthma can develop an asthmatic attack – along with an allergic reaction - when exposed to their trigger allergens. In that case, the symptoms are not confined to the upper airway with only itching and redness. They can also make their way to the lower airway with chest tightness and wheezing.

This reaction happens because the chemicals released by the immune response to the invading allergen extend to the lower part of the airway. The lower trachea, bronchi, and lungs react to these chemicals by releasing mucus and other secretions. Muscle contractions occur to keep the allergen from invading even deeper into the system. As a result, the signs and symptoms of asthma - rather than allergy - start to appear. This discovery has led to the emergence of a new concept called the unified airway disease (UAD).

There is another link to consider. In some cases, an asthma attack happens when irritants contact the skin or other body parts aside from the airway. It can even result from some food allergies. This phenomenon is known as Allergic Asthma.

How this knowledge could affect your lifestyle

This knowledge is invaluable if you suffer from both asthma and allergies. You should identify the triggers that cause your allergic reactions and try to avoid them as much as possible. That way, you can also avoid falling victim to asthma and asthmatic attacks.

Similarly, asthmatics can also work with an ENT allergist to establish a link between their asthma and inhalant allergies through skin testing. Allergy skin tests can identify specific allergic triggers, so the patient knows to avoid them.

They can also help direct the appropriate active and preventative medications to control symptoms and asthma attacks. Some medicines and remedies - as explained above - can be used to treat and manage both conditions simultaneously.

However, the most significant benefit of specific allergy skin testing is that it allows the implementation of the only treatment that can permanently improve and prevent progression in asthma - immunotherapy to inhalant allergies. The easiest and safest way to specifically desensitize a person to their inhalant allergies is with sublingual allergy drops.

The link between asthma and various allergies is now fairly well-established. Although the mechanism is not yet fully understood, it is of great benefit to you to figure out if that connection is happening inside your body. Knowledge is the basis of treatment, and with that knowledge, you can help keep your conditions under control and enjoy a healthy and happy lifestyle.