Understanding Asthma and Allergies
Understanding Asthma and Allergies
It appears that allergies and asthma are increasing and more people are suffering from these conditions. Asthma can affect people of any age, but it generally begins in childhood. There are certain allergens that can cause an asthma attack. There are other things that can cause an asthma attack such as exercise, stress, and cold weather. Mild climates and the lack of a cold winter can contribute to many allergy, asthma, and sinus problems. During the spring when a lot of rain is typical, plants grow faster and mold counts are high causing the early onset of allergies, asthma, and sinus problems.
Types of Asthma
Sometimes asthma attacks are caused by exercise. This type, called exercise-induced asthma, can seriously affect lifestyles. Another cause is coming into contact with allergens such as dust, pet dander, pollen, and grass or weeds. Even perfume can cause an asthma attack in some people. Another type is nighttime asthma. This type can cause coughing, tightness in the chest, wheezing, and shortness of breath. It can result in sleepless nights and feeling tired all the time due to the lack of sleep.
What are the Treatments?
Relaxation is one of the ways to prevent asthma attacks. Of course it is natural to get upset if you are having trouble breathing, but panicking can actually make things worse. The bronchial tubes narrow in response to panic or other strong emotions. Inhalers are generally prescribed to provide quick relief for people who suffer from asthma. Injections are often the answer for asthma attacks related to allergies. Steroids and corticosteroids have shown to be effective treatments. It will depend on the type of problem and what it is being caused by when it comes to treatment.
Allergies
Many people suffer from sinusitis and this can be confused with allergies. During the time of year when the pollen count is high, people can suffer from a stuffy nose and pain. This can be sinusitis rather than allergies. The symptoms of allergies are similar to sinus problems. Testing by a specialist is one way of distinguishing the difference. The Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center is an example of asthma and allergy specialists Hunterdon County NJ.
There are many types of allergies in addition to asthma and sinusitis. It is often difficult to tell which one is causing your problems. Even a cold can have many of the same symptoms of allergies such as watery eyes, stuffy nose, headache, fatigue, and trouble breathing.
