If you have trouble breathing, and you suffer from allergies, your breathing problems could actually be asthma, and your allergy doctor can help.

What You Need To Know About Allergies and Asthma

Allergies can be seasonal and caused by exposure to:

• Grasses, weeds, and trees
• Plant and flower pollens

Allergies can also last all year long and be caused by exposure to:

• Mold and mildew
• Dust and dust mites
• Pet fur and dander

When you are exposed to an allergic substance, known as an allergen, you may experience sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, and watery, itchy eyes. You may also experience a narrowing of your airways, making it difficult to breathe. You may feel like you can’t breathe in enough air. This is known as asthma, and asthma can be easily triggered by exposure to an allergen.

Your first step in managing allergies and asthma is having allergy testing to determine what you are allergic to, so you can avoid the allergen. Your allergy doctor may recommend these treatments for allergies:

• Allergy shots to decrease or eliminate symptoms when you are exposed to an allergen
• Sublingual immunotherapy, which are drops placed under the tongue to lessen or eliminate symptoms when you are exposed to an allergen

To control asthma, your allergy doctor may recommend:

• Inhaled medications to provide short-term relief during a crisis
• Long-term asthma management medications

In addition, there are several steps you should take to limit allergy and asthma symptoms. You should:

• Vacuum frequently, or consider switching to hard flooring
• Use hypoallergenic sheets and pillowcases
• Wash pillowcases and sheets regularly
• Consider installing a HEPA filter in your bedroom
• Keep pets off furniture and out of the bedroom
• Keep doors and windows closed during the spring and summer months

Want To Know More?

You can live well with allergies and asthma, and your allergy doctor can help. Call your allergy doctor today to learn more about the connection between allergies and asthma and how your doctor can help you manage asthma and allergies.