Do you suffer from severe shortness of breath when birch pollen flies through the air? Allergic asthma could be the reason for this. We explain the background to the respiratory disease.
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Allergic asthma caused by allergies
Allergic asthma is caused by Allergens caused. When you come into contact with certain substances that you are allergic to, your immune system tries to defend itself. An acute asthma attack causes the… Bronchial muscles severely cramped. This is expressed in Shortness of breath, cough and difficult breathing. People with allergies are mainly sensitive to plant pollen or house dust. But an allergy to animal hair is also widespread. Allergic asthma usually begins in childhood or adolescence and disappears over the course of life. Some sufferers only notice the asthma symptoms later.
From hay fever to asthma
Around 15 percent of the German population suffers from a pollen allergy – and the number of those affected is increasing. Hay fever is no small matter, as it is One in five people who suffer from hay fever develop allergic asthma. But how does this transition happen?
When you have hay fever, the immune system essentially fights harmless particles and releases inflammatory substances that attack the upper respiratory tract. The consequence of this is that those affected begin to sniff and sneeze. In some patients, over time, a so-called “Change of floors“. This means that the inflammation spreads to the lower respiratory tract. The muscles of the bronchi tense up, the mucous membrane swells and begins to produce more mucus, which leads to an asthma attack.
Environmental risks and bad habits
People who suffer from neurodermatitis or hay fever can often develop allergic asthma. But many environmental influences also cause bronchial asthma. In addition to the examples mentioned above, this also includes Mold spores, mites or bird feathers. Nowadays, allergy sufferers do the same Exhaust fumes, chemical solvents and perfume to accomplish.
Sometimes they are too Genes to blame for a child getting asthma. If both parents suffer from allergic asthma, there is a 60 to 80 percent chance that their child will also develop allergic symptoms. Being overweight and smoking also contribute to the fact that allergic asthma can settle in the bronchi. Therefore, have yourself checked regularly by a medical professional.
You can find out more about the causes and treatment of asthma here:
How is allergic asthma diagnosed?
The diagnosis of allergic asthma essentially includes four key components as well as the exclusion of other respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis, whooping cough or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
1. Medical history: In addition to asking about specific previous illnesses and family predisposition, medical professionals in particular ask about the type, frequency and duration of the symptoms.
2. Physical Examination: This focuses primarily on listening to the lungs and tapping the chest. This allows for the potential detection of airway narrowing or air pockets.
3. Pulmonary function test: Checking lung function is a crucial criterion for diagnosing allergic asthma. This primarily includes one Spirometry to measure the speed of air flow through the lungs and a Body plethysmography to determine breathing resistance and the remaining air volume after exhalation. Airway narrowing can be effectively detected using these functional tests.
4. Allergy test: Common procedures include a skin test (prick test) and a blood test to measure IgE antibodies. If there are no symptoms, a provocation test may be useful.
In addition to these basic tests, there are other tests that can be used to confirm the diagnosis of allergic asthma. This will occasionally include a chest x-ray, as well as a general blood test, which is usually standard.
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