Allergies and asthma are usually very closely related to one another. This is because allergies and asthma usually happen at the same time. In America, allergy-induced asthma is considered as the most common type of asthma. Unfortunately, if you have both allergic asthma, then anything that triggers your allergies, also trigger our asthma. Most people with allergy-induced asthma are sensitive to pollen, pet dander and any other type of airborne substances. For people with allergic asthma, any allergic responses that affect the linings of both the nose and the bronchial airways are similar. When the antibodies in the body are exposed to allergens a person will start experiencing symptoms of asthma (wheezing caused by airway constriction, shortness of breath or chest tightness) and allergies (runny nose or itchy eyes). For example, if a person is allergic to pet dander, then his/her body will produce antibodies for this allergy. During an allergic episode, the pet dander can trigger the body to release chemicals that may cause the lining of the nose to become inflamed. If the person has asthma allergy, then the inflammation will not only stop at the lining of the nose, but it will go further down into the bronchial airways, causing them to tighten.

Most people with allergic asthma have allergy treatments that can help lessen the symptoms of their asthma. A person can go to his/her physician and ask for an allergy shot to help treat the allergy, which in turn helps prevent the occurrence of allergy induced asthma. A person with asthma allergies should avoid any substance that is known to cause the allergies. This will help prevent and control the asthma allergy. Because allergies and asthma are so closely related and both having to do with inflammation, there are some medication that work for both ailments, but are taken differently. Corticosteroids can treat both allergies and asthma. Corticosteroids used to treat allergies usually come in spray form, to reduce the inflammation of the nasal lining, while corticosteroids used to treat asthma come in the form of inhalers so that the person can breathe in the medication and let it go straight to the bronchial airways. Montelukast that are taken in pill form can help treat both asthma and allergy symptoms at the same time. There are also medications known as leukotriene modifiers that can aide in the regulation of the chemicals release by the immune system during allergic reactions. Of course most medications are better at treating one disease than the other. Medications like bronchodilators are more effective in treating asthma, while antihistamines are more effective in treating allergies like hay fever.

People who have a family history of allergies are more susceptible to allergic asthma themselves. This goes the same for people who are allergic to airborne substances. Studies show that one out of four people who have hay fever develop asthma allergies as well. It should be known that although allergy induced asthma is the most common type of asthma, not all asthma cases are triggered by allergies. Some asthma cases are triggered by over exertion, cold air or gastroesophageal reflux. Having allergic asthma should not stop you from living a normal life. Get to know what triggers your allergies and try to avoid them. Visit your doctor and ask for advice as to what treatment can work best for you.