Understanding asthma and allergies

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, and in San Diego, allergy season is here. About a quarter of U.S. adults have seasonal allergies. In California, almost 9% of adults have asthma, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you have one or both conditions, finding relief isn’t always easy. Knowing more about them can help you to manage your symptoms and feel better.

Allergies happen when your body’s immune system reacts to pollen, food or another substance. If you have allergies, you might sneeze or get hives, itchy eyes or a scratchy throat. If you have one allergy, there’s a chance you may have others.

If you have asthma and your lungs are irritated, your airways can shrink. Less air moves in and out of your lungs and mucous blocks your airways. This can cause asthma attacks with coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or difficulty breathing. Asthma is a long-term disease, but asthma attacks only happen when something irritates your lungs. Seasonal allergies may even cause allergic asthma, making symptoms more uncomfortable.

4 ways to manage allergies and asthma

There aren’t cures for allergies or asthma, but these options can help. Check with your doctor to learn which treatments are best for you.

Know the warning signs for an asthma attack

• Coughing during the day or night that’s strong enough to wake you.
• Wheezing, which sounds like whistling when you breathe.
• Difficulty with breathing, such as feeling out of breath, short of breath, struggling to breathe out or breathing faster than normal.
• Chest tightness.

Asthma and allergy triggers

Different things in your environment, or “triggers,” may cause an allergic reaction or an asthma attack. Common asthma triggers are secondhand smoke, mold, dampness, dust mites and pollen.

Ragweed, Bermuda grass and Timothy grass can all be found in San Diego and create pollen that can trigger allergies. As temperatures continue warming, pollen seasons start earlier and last longer.

Looking for more relief?

Check in with your doctor if you have questions about your symptoms or medication. If needed, your primary care physician can refer you to a specialist.