Allergens and Asthma
The typical signs and symptoms of asthma are:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Waking up in the middle of the night with any of these
Approximately 20 million people in the United States have asthma –
and 50 percent of those cases are attributable to allergies. Six million of all
people with asthma are children.
People with allergic asthma have a
genetically programmed response to allergens. Upon exposure, an asthma
episode may be triggered. The lining of the airways becomes inflamed,
and other physiological changes take place. These changes result in
symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath --
symptoms which can range from mild to life-threatening.
Asthma can’t
yet be cured, but it can be controlled. Identifying airborne allergens
in the home and then avoiding exposure are crucial measures to reduce
asthma episodes and their potentially serious health consequences.
More Information
Read physician-approved allergy and asthma content at njhealth.org.
The Ad Hoc Working Group on Environmental Allergens and Asthma from the
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology endorses the
National Asthma Education Program asthma management guidelines, which
recommend that every patient with persistent asthma be evaluated for
environmental allergen sensitivity and that patients who have
sensitivities receive practical advice on allergen avoidance.
Exposure to a variety of allergens, including those from molds, pets,
and insects, have been associated with allergic symptoms in some
individuals. These symptoms may include cough, sneezing, runny nose,
and eye nose or throat irritation. Outdoor allergens that come from
pollens of grasses, trees and weeds, as well as molds, may cause
similar symptoms, but typically have more seasonal variation than do
allergens present indoors.
