Asthma Answers

Like many people, I have asthma that can be caused by allergies. Allergy related asthma is the most common form of the chronic disease. More than 50 percent and as many as 60 percent of asthma sufferers have asthma caused by allergic reactions. That means that more than ten million people in the United States and more than 2.5 million children are affected by asthma and allergies.

Allergic asthma is a disease in a person’s lungs in which allergic reactions from inhaled allergens cause symptoms appear. The most commons inhaled allergens are pet dander, dust mites, pollen and molds.

Many of the symptoms are the same for allergy and non-allergy related asthma. They include wheezing, coughing in the morning or night, shortness of breath and a feeling of the chest tightening.

If you think you may have asthma related to allergies, you should consult a doctor because only a trained professional can properly diagnosis it. They can also prescribe medications to control asthma on a long term basis as well as in the short term in cases of acute asthma attacks.

Fifteen to thirty percent of people with allergies are allergic to cats and dogs. Twenty to thirty percent of asthma sufferers will have asthma symptoms triggered when they come in contact with a cat. Long-term contact, like living in a house can lead to chronic asthma. Contrary to popular belief, t’s not the fur, it’s the pet dander that causes an allergic reaction because it contains dust mites and pollen.

The most effective way to take care of this is by taking the pet out of the household. Of course, this is easier said than done sometimes. An alternative would be keeping the pet out of the bedroom, which could reduce the problems because people generally spend a third to half of their day in their bedroom. Instead of buying a pet with fur, you could look at animals like fish, snakes and reptiles that wouldn’t have the pet dander problem.

Another resident of houses, is something that many people don’t want – cockroaches. They’re a common cause of asthma because of the cockroach “dust.” Cockroach dust is body parst and droppings that can cause an allergic reaction.

The best way to keep cockroaches away is by keeping the kitchen clean and not keeping food out. If the problem persists, you can use environmentally safe pesticides and baits.

Dust mites are part of even the most cleanest houses and a very common trigger for allergies and asthma sufferers. However, there’s some easy things that can be done to reduce it. You can use dust proof pillows and sheets. Wash your bedding once a week with hot water.

Mold spores is another common trigger of allergy related asthma that’s found in all homes. The easiest solution is to keep the house clean and dry, however that’s not always enough. Sometimes a good way around this is to use a dehumidifier to reduce the amount of moisture in the air and cutting back on the ability of the mold to grow.