Text/Editor: Sky
When you sneeze, is it immediately accompanied by symptoms of difficulty breathing, wheezing, and chest tightness?
In fact, this is not a simple physiological reaction, but a serious breathing problem, and this "culprit" is allergic asthma!
If you are exposed to an environment where allergens accumulate for a long time, the immune system will produce a series of adverse reactions.
Causes airway inflammation, bronchospasm, and increased mucus production, which in turn triggers asthma symptoms.
According to the latest medical research, more than 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma, and about 130 million people on the mainland are affected by the disease.
However, when it comes to the treatment of allergic asthma, the vast majority of patients will fall into a common misunderstanding, thinking that once the drug is used, it cannot be stopped, so that many people avoid medical treatment for asthma, which eventually leads to the continuous deterioration of the condition.
So for patients with allergic asthma, is it medication or not?
We will also answer this question by resolving the real causes of allergic asthma under allergens.
and provide a more comprehensive set of health adjustment strategies to reduce asthma symptoms.
The real factors that trigger allergic asthma
When we talk about allergic asthma, a key factor that has to be mentioned is "allergens", which are some substances that normally seem harmless, but in the body of asthma patients, they can trigger abnormal reactions of the immune system, resulting in breathing problems.
These allergens can be common pollen, dust mites, mold, pet hair and other tiny particles, and when these allergens enter the respiratory tract, the immune system starts to release chemicals, such as histamine, like a war, to fight these "invaders".
But the problem lies in the chemicals of the immune system, because they overperform, cause inflammation of the airways, resulting in swelling and congestion of the inner walls of the airways, as if you block a passage with a cloth and the air is difficult to circulate.
At the same time, this overreaction of the immune system can also lead to bronchospasm, that is, abnormal contraction of the airways, which further restricts the flow of air, and chest tightness and difficulty breathing are caused by these reasons.
Studies have shown that people with allergic asthma have more sensitive airways to respond to allergens and are more prone to airway inflammation and cramping than other types of asthma, with about 70% of asthma cases globally being allergy-related.
By digging deeper, we discovered that allergens aren't just responsible for symptoms at the turn of the seasons. Their role may be more extensive, for example, dust mites, mold, etc. breed in humid environments, may exist in indoor air, and trigger symptoms of allergic asthma at any time.
In addition to allergens, there are other factors that can also trigger the attack of allergic asthma, these factors are related to the environment, lifestyle and individual health status, we need a more comprehensive understanding of these factors in order to be able to treat asthma more accurately.
- Infect:
Viral infections can trigger a response from the immune system, leading to increased inflammation, and when infected, the immune system releases cytokines and chemicals such as interleukin and tumor necrosis factor to fight off pathogens.
However, in people with allergic asthma, these inflammatory substances can exacerbate airway inflammation and ultimately trigger increased asthma symptoms.
At the same time, viral infections can cause swelling and congestion in the lining of the airways, narrowing the airways, in which case dyspnea and wheezing may increase significantly even in the absence of allergens.
Therefore, patients need to pay special attention to respiratory hygiene during the cold season to avoid infection.
- Emotions and stress:
Although asthma is primarily an inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract, changes in mood and mental state can also affect respiratory sensitivity.
When emotions and stress come up, it affects the balance of the autonomic nervous system, leading to increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system, especially in situations of anxiety and nervousness.
If the mindset is not adjusted in time, these backlogs of emotional stress will exacerbate the symptoms of allergic asthma, so emotional management becomes equally important for patients.
There are some ways we can take to reduce emotions and stress, such as deep breathing, relaxation exercises, exercise, meditation, etc., which will help reduce the onset of asthma symptoms.
- Motion:
Exercise is largely triggered in allergic asthma, where dyspnea, wheezing, and chest tightness occur after exercise.
Exercise can dry and cool the airways, causing airway spasm, especially in people who are prone to allergen allergies.
Therefore, prevention and management are key for asthma patients, and warm-up exercise, moderate exercise, and bronchodilators can help reduce symptoms.
Despite the risks, moderate exercise is beneficial and improves quality of life.
Drugs and Myths: Confusion and Truth in Asthma Treatment
Drugs play a key role in asthma treatment, but there are also some misunderstandings, so that many patients use incorrect ways to treat asthma, in order to help you get out of these misunderstandings, we will also solve your confusion one by one.
Myth 1: Drugs will make me dependent for the rest of my life
Asthma is a chronic airway disease characterized by inflammation and contraction of the airways, and the role of medication in asthma treatment is to reduce symptoms and prevent acute attacks by reducing inflammation and dilating the airways, however, this does not mean that once the drug is started, it will be dependent forever.
At present, 80% of asthma patients can achieve stable conditions and obtain a good quality of life through reasonable treatment and management, in fact, drug treatment is an important means to help asthma patients control symptoms and reduce attacks.
For many patients, after a period of treatment and adjustment, after symptoms are effectively controlled, the doctor may gradually reduce the dose of the drug, or even consider stopping the drug.
Most importantly, medication is not the only treatment, asthma treatment is a comprehensive process, including medication, lifestyle management, allergen avoidance, etc.
By improving indoor air quality, reasonable exercise, healthy diet, etc., asthma symptoms can also be reduced to some extent.
Therefore, do not worry too much about the drug will make you dependent for the rest of your life, and communicate fully with your doctor.
Myth 2: Only pulmonary symptoms are manifestations of allergic asthma
Allergic asthma is an immune disease that affects far beyond the lungs and can affect the whole body in addition to lung symptoms.
Nasal symptoms: People with allergic asthma are often accompanied by nasal symptoms, such as frequent sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, etc., because the inflammation caused by allergen stimulation affects not only the lungs, but also the nasal cavity and sinuses.
Skin symptoms: Some patients also experience skin symptoms such as dry skin, itching, and erythema because of the common immune mechanism between allergic asthma and skin diseases.
Systemic symptoms: Systemic symptoms such as fatigue and fatigue can also appear in these patients, which is related to the inflammatory factors released by the inflammatory response to cause discomfort throughout the body.
Therefore, the manifestations of allergic asthma go far beyond the pulmonary symptoms, and understanding these potential manifestations can help patients better understand their own condition, seek medical attention in time, and develop appropriate treatment plans.
Myth 3: Only smokers develop allergic asthma
Everyone knows that the pathogenesis of asthma is related to smoking, but this does not mean that smokers will develop asthma, in real life, many non-smokers also suffer from allergic asthma.
One of the most common factors is genetics, with surveys showing that if one parent has asthma, the risk of asthma in children is about 15%, and if both parents have asthma, the risk increases to about 30%.
In addition, air pollution is closely related to the risk of allergic asthma, and when we are exposed to high levels of particulate and gas pollution, especially fine particles, the risk of allergic asthma will increase.
This is because air pollutants can induce airway inflammation and damage lung tissue, which can lead to the development of asthma symptoms.
It should be noted that children and the elderly are more sensitive to air pollution, children's respiratory systems are developing, and the immune system of the elderly is more vulnerable, so they are more susceptible to air pollution, which contributes to the development of asthma.
Sadly, more than 2.3 million people worldwide die prematurely each year from asthma-related causes caused by air pollution.
Myth 4: Allergic asthma only affects young people
Most people with allergic asthma are young people, so much so that most people think that children and the elderly can get away with it, but this is not the case, this disease is age-free and can affect children, adolescents, adults and the elderly.
People of all ages can develop allergic asthma because its pathogenesis is related to the immune system and environmental factors, not just age.
Today, more than 100 million children worldwide have asthma, and childhood is one of the highest rates of asthma, especially allergen-sensitive children.
At the same time, the probability of disease in the elderly is not small, although their asthma symptoms are different from those of younger people, but changes in allergens and immune systems can still lead to the development of asthma, according to the European Respiratory Society, 3% to 10% of people over 65 years old have asthma.
To sum up, correctly recognizing the misunderstanding in allergic asthma will be of great help to follow-up treatment and prevention, and we will also provide you with a series of health adjustment strategies to help patients reduce asthma symptoms.
Holistic adjustment to reduce asthma symptoms: the importance of an integrated health strategy
Drug treatment is one of the important means to improve allergic asthma, and rational use of drugs can effectively reduce symptoms and control attacks.
Among them, inhaled steroids are representative of control drugs that reduce the likelihood of asthma attacks by reducing airway inflammation, and their presence can reduce the risk of asthma attacks in asthma patients by more than 50%.
For some patients with refractory allergic asthma, biologics may be an option, for example, anti-IL-5 biologics can target specific inflammatory pathways and reduce the risk of asthma attacks.
Data show that the use of these drugs can significantly reduce the number of acute attacks and improve lung function.
Inhaled steroids are a crucial part of treatment and can reduce the risk of asthma attacks by more than 50%, for example, daily use of inhaled budesonide can significantly reduce the number of exacerbations and improve lung function.
At the same time, you can help yourself to take more appropriate treatment measures, or you can use it according to different causes.
It should be noted that the use of these drugs must cooperate with the doctor according to your own situation, and it is very important to use the drugs correctly according to the doctor's advice.
Of course, while controlling the drug, patients also need to avoid excessive exposure to allergens, which are common allergens such as indoor dust mites, pet dander, mold, etc.
Regular cleaning of bedding, floors, furniture, dust collectors and air purifiers can significantly reduce allergen exposure.
In spring, it is a period of high pollen, and this period needs to reduce pollen exposure by paying attention to pollen forecasts, avoiding outdoor activities, and maintaining indoor ventilation.
There are also studies that show that food allergies are more associated with allergic asthma, and knowing your own food allergies and avoiding exposure to foods that trigger food allergies can reduce asthma symptoms.
At the same time, air quality is also an important part of allergen management, and highly polluted environments can continue to aggravate asthma symptoms, so improving air quality can help reduce the risk of asthma attacks, and the use of air purifiers and avoiding activities in heavily polluted areas are effective measures.
Lifestyle adjustments can effectively improve allergic asthma, and patients can strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation through a healthy lifestyle, thereby reducing the risk of asthma attacks.
Moderate exercise: Exercise can enhance cardiopulmonary function, improve lung capacity, help reduce allergic asthma symptoms, moderate aerobic exercise can reduce the number of attacks in asthma patients, regularly participate in moderate intensity exercise, such as walking, swimming, etc., can improve respiratory function.
Healthy diet: Adequate intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants during illness can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms, increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy protein, and help improve immune system function.
Regular schedule: If lack of sleep can lead to an increased risk of allergic asthma, ensuring 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night can improve immune function.
In normal times, relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation can help reduce tension and asthma symptoms.
The key to a comprehensive management strategy is to consider different factors to manage allergic asthma more holistically.
Through medication, allergen management, lifestyle modifications, environmental controls, and health education, patients can reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, and better manage asthma.
Allergic asthma is a common respiratory disease, but through comprehensive management strategies, patients can effectively improve their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Correctly understanding the misunderstandings in the disease and scientific adjustment methods can effectively help patients reduce the harm caused by asthma.
At the same time, it is necessary to remember that asthma is not an ordinary disease, and it must be paid attention to in daily life, and cooperate with the doctor's treatment plan to reduce the recurrence of the disease.
Bibliography:
- GUO Dongmei. Research Progress on Phenotypic Differences in Airway Inflammation in Allergic Asthma
- LI Yi. Research Progress on Allergic Asthma
- GAO Jingjing. Allergies? Asthma? Or allergic asthma? 》
- YAN Yanfeng. "Allergic asthma"