“Can asthma be caused by allergies?”
My daughter has severe allergies during the spring, and they cause her to get breathless. Her doctor thinks that she has asthma now, too. Can allergies be caused by asthma as well?
3 Answers
PulmonologistSeasonalAllergies
Yes
Dear father,
Allergies and asthma often go hand in hand. Both conditions are part of an inflammation process called atopy. Inflammation is the way the body's immune system reacts upon being exposed to a substance that it considers to be a threat. This substance may be a dangerous bacteria or virus, in which case the inflammation response is appropriate, to try and eliminate the offending agent. In other cases, the substance may be an inoffensive grain of pollen or a dust of grass which is attacked by the immune system, causing more or less severe allergy symptoms. Sometimes when those allergy symptoms occur in the lungs, the reaction is known as atopic asthma or allergic asthma, which is characterized by shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness and cough. Part of the treatment involves controlling the underlying allergic reaction itself, in addition to treating the asthma symptoms with inhalers or possibly nebulized medication or pills, depending on the severity of the condition.I hope this brief explanation will help you understand more what is happening with your daughter. My advice to you is to have her evaluated by a pulmonologist who should be able to handle both issues and prescribe the proper combination of medication if necessary.
Respectfully,
Elie Mansour, MD, FCCP
Allergies and asthma often go hand in hand. Both conditions are part of an inflammation process called atopy. Inflammation is the way the body's immune system reacts upon being exposed to a substance that it considers to be a threat. This substance may be a dangerous bacteria or virus, in which case the inflammation response is appropriate, to try and eliminate the offending agent. In other cases, the substance may be an inoffensive grain of pollen or a dust of grass which is attacked by the immune system, causing more or less severe allergy symptoms. Sometimes when those allergy symptoms occur in the lungs, the reaction is known as atopic asthma or allergic asthma, which is characterized by shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness and cough. Part of the treatment involves controlling the underlying allergic reaction itself, in addition to treating the asthma symptoms with inhalers or possibly nebulized medication or pills, depending on the severity of the condition.I hope this brief explanation will help you understand more what is happening with your daughter. My advice to you is to have her evaluated by a pulmonologist who should be able to handle both issues and prescribe the proper combination of medication if necessary.
Respectfully,
Elie Mansour, MD, FCCP
Yes, inhaled allergens can cause asthma.
