The weather is warmer, flowers are blooming and the days are getting longer – it’s springtime in Texas, which means your allergies may be flaring up! In addition, if you suffer from asthma, it may be triggered more often this time of year.
May is National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month, a good time to look at the symptoms and treatments for allergies and asthma. Privia Medical Group North Texas (PMGNTX) primary care physicians, as well as our ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists, provide care and treatment for asthma and allergies to patients across North Texas.
What is Asthma?
While asthma is a serious condition, it can be effectively managed through medication and precautions. The causes of asthma not fully understood, though heredity is known to be a contributing factor. Asthma causes the airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs, to become inflamed. When this happens, the muscles around the airways tighten, causing the passages to narrow. This process can also cause an increased production of mucus, making it even more difficult to move air.
This leads to wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing, the chief symptoms of asthma. Sometimes episodes are mild and pass quickly; at other times, the symptoms persist and get worse – this is known as an asthma attack.
“Asthma attacks are frightening, especially if someone doesn’t know they have asthma and experience an attack for the first time,” says Dr. Sean M. Callahan, an ENT in southwest Fort Worth. “It’s especially scary for kids.”
Asthma is relatively common in the United States: as of 2022, close to 27 million people (8% of the population) had been diagnosed with asthma and of those, 4.5 million were children. In North Texas, nearly one out of five kids have asthma. Most people who have asthma developed it as a child, although it can present for the first time in adulthood, as well.
Asthma is diagnosed with a simple test: the patient blows into a device called a spirometer, which measures lung function. While asthma cannot be cured, it can be treated and managed effectively to the point where flare-ups are minimal, and an asthma patient can live a normal life.
Know Your Asthma Triggers
Asthma is irritated by “triggers,” which cause the asthma to flare and make it difficult to breathe. Some of the most common asthma triggers include:
- Upper-respiratory illness: The common cold, flu, COVID-19 and RSV can cause asthma to flare up.
- Allergies: Allergies can cause an asthma attack.
- Cold air: Breathing in cold air is a trigger for some folks.
- Tobacco smoke: Cigarette and cigar smoke are major triggers for patients with asthma. Anyone with asthma should avoid exposure to second-hand smoke and should certainly avoid smoking themselves.
- Dust mites: These are tiny bugs that live in mattresses, sheets, pillows and other bedding. Utilizing mattress and pillow covers can reduce exposure to dust mites, as does washing sheets with hot water. Many pillows are also washable.
- Cockroaches: If you don’t already have enough reasons to dislike cockroaches, here’s another: they can also cause asthma attacks. Keeping your home clean is the best way to eliminate these pests and reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack.
- Mold: Mold triggers asthma attacks in many people. Keeping bathrooms clean and clear of mold and mildew is important.
- Pets: Unfortunately, the dander from our furry companions can cause asthma attacks in some people.
- Outdoor air pollution: Air pollutants can trigger asthma symptoms. In North Texas, patients with asthma should limit outdoor activity on days when air quality is poor.
- Fumes: Any type of strong fume, such as paint or perfume, can exacerbate asthma.
“The first step in effectively managing asthma is to understand what triggers an attack,” explains Dr. Marc Dean, an ENT with offices in Dallas and Fort Worth. “Once you know what your triggers are, you can develop strategies to avoid them or at least minimize exposure. Recognizing and avoiding triggers is the foundation of an asthma action plan, a plan your doctor will help you develop.”
Sometimes asthma patients are prescribed a maintenance inhaler – used on a daily basis – to keep airways open. This is different from a rescue inhaler, which everyone with asthma must carry at all times. Used in the event of an asthma attack, the rescue inhaler helps to immediately open the constricted airways.
“Asthma must be taken seriously, but as long as you follow your asthma action plan by avoiding and minimizing exposure to triggers and taking prescribed medications, there is no reason it should interfere with your life in any significant way,” says Dr. Dean.
Understanding Allergies
An allergic reaction occurs when a foreign substance enters our body and our immune system, mistaking it for danger, attacks it. This process creates a reaction in the body that people commonly refer to as “allergies.”
Allergies & Anaphylaxis
Some food, drug and insect sting allergies may cause a severe, life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction include weak pulse, a tightening of the throat, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. Anaphylaxis causes the immune system to go into shock.
People with this type of allergy must always keep an epinephrine auto-injector (often called an epi-pen) with them. In the event of an anaphylactic reaction, the patient injects himself to provide relief and then must call 911 for additional treatment.
Some people are allergic to certain medications, insects or foods but do not experience anaphylaxis when exposed. Possible additional symptoms include:
- Drugs: Hives, itchy skin and rashes are possible symptoms of an allergic reaction to a drug, such as penicillin.
- Insect stings and bites: Wasps, bees and fire ants produce allergic reactions in some of their victims, leading to swelling, shortness of breath, hives and itching all over the body.
- Food: Peanuts and shellfish are two common offenders, but a variety of foods can cause allergic reactions. These allergies can cause hives and swelling of the lips, tongue or throat.
Allergic Rhinitis
The most common type of allergy is allergic rhinitis, sometimes called Hay Fever. This is the type of allergy that affects many people in North Texas, especially in the spring and summer months when trees, plants and grasses are in their peak seasons and producing lots of pollen. Mold, dust and animal dander can also cause allergic rhinitis. Common reactions to allergic rhinitis include sneezing; itchy, watery or red eyes; runny nose; nasal congestion; post-nasal drip and feeling tired. These types of allergies can also trigger an asthma attack.
“For some, allergies are a nuisance that affect them only occasionally. For others, they can be a more serious problem, producing frequent symptoms and interfering with daily activities,” says Dr. Paresh Patel, a family practice physician in Fort Worth. “If someone has only sporadic allergic symptoms, these can often be treated with over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays. But if someone’s allergies produce frequent symptoms, it is best to be tested and develop an immunotherapy treatment plan.”
Allergy testing is usually done through a series of skin prick tests. After determining which pollens, molds and other airborne substances the patient is allergic to, the lab prepares an immunotherapy treatment in which the patient is exposed to the allergens at gradually-increasing levels. Over time, this process builds immunity to the allergen.
Traditionally, immunotherapy has been administered via a regular injection that the patient can do it home. Some Privia North Texas Medical Group providers also offer immunotherapy via a sublingual medication (a drop under the tongue), which is effective for some types of allergens.
“If you are experiencing frequent allergic symptoms, you should definitely visit with your health care provider about being tested,” says Dr. Patel. “Many patients are pleasantly surprised at how much better they feel after undergoing immunotherapy for a year or longer.”
Don’t Let Allergies or Asthma Slow You Down
Asthma is a serious health condition that must be managed through medical treatment. For many people, allergies can also have a significant impact on their health. However, both conditions can be treated and managed effectively.
PMGNTX physicians are here for you if you need help with asthma or allergies. With proper diagnosis and treatment, neither condition need interfere with you or your child’s daily routine.
This article has been reviewed and approved by a panel of Privia Medical Group North Texas physicians.
This article contains information sourced from:
