Asthma and allergies are common chronic health conditions for both children and adults. Just look at these statistics:
In the United States, 1 in 13 people have asthma.
Over 8% of children have asthma. It is the leading pediatric chronic condition.
About 20% of adults in the U.S. have some form of allergic disease.
About 5% of adults and 8% of children have one or multiple food allergies.
10-30% of the global population is estimated to be affected by allergic rhinitis.
While these numbers are already concerning, the evidence shows an increasing prevalence of both conditions.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic health condition that affects the lungs. Asthma is typically a combination of airway restriction and overproduction of mucus. During an "asthma attack," this increased inflammation of the airways within the lungs results in difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, and/or coughing. Asthma is likely caused by a combination of inherited and environmental factors. It is common in both children and adults.
Asthma attacks can be induced by several different types of triggers, and triggers for each person vary:
Exercise-induced asthma: asthma triggered by physical activity, especially when paired with cold/dry air
Occupational-induced: asthma triggered by gases or chemicals found in the workplace
Allergy-induced: asthma triggered by exposure to allergens such as pollen, mold spores, cockroach waste, pet dander, fragrance, food, and dust mites
Exposure to air pollutants/irritants such as smoke
Consuming sulfites and preservatives in some food such as beer, wine, dried fruit, and cured meats
Stress and emotional trauma
Respiratory infections (i.e. the common cold)
Medications such as beta blockers, NSAIDs like ibuprofen, aspirin, and Aleve
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
Some common cormorbidities of asthma include:
Allergies, such as allergic rhinitis
Eczema
Rhinosinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses and nasal cavity)
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
Mental illness (depression, anxiety, panic disorders)
Chronic infections
Obesity
Diabetes mellitus
Autism spectrum disorder
Down syndrome
Medical model management of asthma typically entails a combination of quick relief and long lasting control medication. Quick relief medications such as inhalers and nebulizers help with the symptoms of an acute asthma attack while long lasting medications seek to reduce the number and severity of asthma attacks an individual experiences. There are benefits and drawbacks to each medication, and each medication's effectiveness may differ from individual to individual.These medications include:
Beta agonists/Bronchodilators: relax the airway muscles to facilitate breathing (ex. albuterol inhaler).
Corticosteroids: decrease inflammation by reducing immune system activity, though long-term use often has negative side effects.
Immunotherapy: allergy shots.
Biologics: biologics for asthma are medications that target antibodies, inflammatory molecules, or cell receptors.
There are also many alternative modalities and preventative measures that can be utilized to reduce the severity and frequency of asthma attacks (see the blog post Using Holistic Modalities & Lifestyle Prevention for Asthma, Allergies, and Eczema for more information).
Allergies
Allergies occur when the immune system identifies a typically harmless foreign substance (pollen, food, pet dander, etc.) as a harmful invader and reacts. The immune system produces antibodies (or immunoglobulins), which act as sentinels that seek out and neutralize these harmful foreign substances(or pathogens). Having an allergy to a substance means that your antibodies are overly sensitive and/or numerous, so they attack substances that don't traditionally need to be attacked.
Another important component of the immune system when it comes to allergies is histamine. When IgE (an antibody/immunoglobulin), identifies an allergen, histamine is released from mast cells as a response. Histamine's job is to get allergens out of the body. First, it increases blood flow to that area (which causes inflammation) so that other components of the immune system can do repairs. Then the histamine triggers different allergic reactions depending on the body region to get the allergens out of the body. It makes your eyes water, your nose sneeze, your skin itch.
Some common allergens include:
Outdoor allergens such as pollen and insect bites
Indoor allergens such as animal dander, dust mites, mold, and cockroach waste
Irritants such as cleaning supplies, fragrance, perfume, car exhaust, and cigarette smoke
Foods such as nuts, eggs, and milk
Drugs such as penicillin
Some common allergy symptoms include:
Hives (aka urticaria): swollen, pale or red bumps on the skin that may itch, burn, or sting
Angiodema: swelling, often around the eyes, lips, hand, genitals, and feet
Sneezing, runny, and/or stuffy nose
Itchy, red, swollen, and/or watery eyes
Itchy, tingling, and/or swelling of the mouth, tongue, lips and throat
Asthma: wheezing, cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath
Anaphylaxis: an acute and severe allergic reaction that can include many symptoms such as dizziness, faintness, anxiety, shock, swelling, cramps, nausea, rash, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, and poor circulation.
Depending on the severity, asthma attacks and allergy symptoms can greatly impact a person's life. Their ability to function on a daily basis can be impeded. Their sleep may be poor due to congestion and wheezing. Asthma attacks may prevent them from engaging in preferred physical activities. They may not be able to visits a friend's house because they have pets. Every area of occupation across all environments can be impacted.
Thankfully, there are many lifestyle habits you can cultivate to avoid triggers and improve health. Head to the blog post Using Holistic Modalities & Lifestyle Prevention for Asthma, Allergies, and Eczema to explore different modalities to manage flare ups, reduce their occuerance, and improve overall health.
REFERENCES
Asthma medications: Know your options. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved June 27, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/in-depth/asthma-medications/art-20045557
AsthmaStats | CDC. (2020, May 4). https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/asthma_stats/default.htm
Asthma—Symptoms and causes. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved June 27, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653
Boulet, L.-P., & Boulay, M.-È. (2011). Asthma-related comorbidities. Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine, 5(3), 377–393. https://doi.org/10.1586/ers.11.34
CDC. (2019, October 25). Learn how to take control of asthma. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/faqs.htm
Most Recent National Asthma Data | CDC. (2020, March 24). https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_national_asthma_data.htm
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