Understanding asthma and allergies

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. In San Diego, allergy season is here. Over 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.

What are allergies?

Allergies are one of the most common chronic diseases. They 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.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. When 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.

Know the warning signs for an asthma attack

Asthma and allergy triggers

Different things in your environment, or “triggers,” may cause an allergic reaction or an asthma attack. Common asthma triggers are tobacco 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. Seasonal allergies may even cause allergic asthma, making symptoms more uncomfortable.

Treatments for 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.

Lifestyle changes

• Try to avoid the outdoors from 5-10 am. Pollen levels are lower in the afternoons and after a heavy rain.
• Close your windows to keep pollen out. Use an air conditioner and avoid window and attic fans.
• Wear a mask while mowing your lawn.

Medication

Some mild allergies are treated with over-the-counter medications. Emergency allergic reactions may require an epinephrine shot for life-threatening reactions.

Asthma medications are for quick relief or long-term control. Quick-relief medicines help to control asthma attacks. Long-term control medicines may help you to have milder and fewer asthma attacks, but they don’t help during an attack.

Allergy shots

These shots are a preventive treatment and are helpful for asthma or allergies to stinging insects, pollen, pets or dust. During treatment, you’ll get small doses of allergens that increase over time. Doses are generally given by injection and require a physician’s supervision.

Keep up with your treatments

If you start feeling better after taking your asthma and allergy medication, keep taking it as prescribed. If you don’t have symptoms, your medication is working!

An asthma action plan can help you to monitor symptoms, manage your medication and recognize danger signs. Use this action plan to get started.