July 2005
Do You Overreact?
Allergies are caused by an overreaction to allergens (foreign substances that are eaten, breathed in, injected, or touched). A mild to moderate overreaction produces symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, itching, runny nose, or scratchy throat. More severe overreactions can produce rashes, lower blood pressure, difficulty breathing, asthma, or even death.
Allergy is one of our most common diseases and also among the most overlooked. If one parent has allergies, chances are one in three that each child will have them. If both parents do, chances are seven in ten.
There is no cure for allergies, but they can be managed with prevention and treatment.
Red Flag
Anaphylaxis occurs when you are exposed to a substance that your body was sensitized to during a previous exposure. Antibodies created during the initial exposure react harmfully with the substance during the subsequent exposure. Anaphylaxis is always an emergency and immediate care is required.
Common food triggers include nuts, legumes, sesame, fish, shellfish, dairy products and eggs. Common medical agents are the antibiotics penicillin and cephalosporin, as well as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
AsthmaAsthma is a disease of the lungs in which airways become temporarily blocked or narrowed.
It affects nearly twenty million Americans and has been increasing since the early 1980s. It is more common in children than adults and slightly more prevalent among African Americans.
Asthma is the fourth leading cause of work absenteeism and results in nearly fifteen million lost workdays a year, resulting in nearly $3 billion in lost productivity. If an asthma episode is severe, it may need emergency treatment. Asthma accounts for nearly one-quarter of all emergency room visits in the U.S. There are more than 5000 deaths. Asthma is primarily a chronic inflammatory disease. This means that people with asthma have inflamed airways that cause symptoms. The bronchi (airway branches leading to the lungs) become more sensitive to all kinds of asthma triggers and the lungs have difficulty moving air in and out. Together these symptoms cause coughing, wheezing, and tightness of the chest. The most severe reactions include swelling and anaphylaxis. There are two kinds of asthma: allergic (extrinsic) and non-allergic (intrinsic). Both are characterized by airway obstruction and inflammation that is at least partially reversible with medication. Allergic asthma is the most common and symptoms are always associated with allergy. It is caused by inhaling allergens such as dust mites, pollen, animal dander, and mold. The symptoms of non-allergic asthma are triggered by other factors such as anxiety, stress, exercise, cold air, hyperventilation, smoke, or other irritants. Treatment for asthma usually includes one or more of the following:
|
Asthma Q & AA: No, asthma is not a contagious disease. No one can "catch it." Q: One class of medications used to treat asthma is inhaled steroids. Are they dangerous? A: Inhaled steroids are used widely to treat asthma. They are not the same drug as the unsafe steroids some athletes take to build muscle. If you have questions about safety, however, you should check with your physician. Q: What is a peak-flow meter? A: This is a device asthmatics can easily use at home to check how open their airways are. It can help to keep track of how well asthma is controlled. Your doctor may ask you to use a peak flow meter regularly and keep track of the results. Q: Will allergy shots help my asthma? A: This is something you should discuss with your doctor. You would need to have allergy tests first. Allergy shots can help with certain allergies such as pollen and grasses. For More Information1-800-822-ASMA www.aaaai.org Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America 1-800-1ASTHMA www.aafa.org Consumer Health Alliance for Safe Medication/Mothers of Asthmatics 1-800-878-4403 www.breatherville.org National Asthma Education Program 301-592-8573 www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung |
