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Asthma & Allergy Prevention

Asthma Alert

Asthma is one of our nation's most common chronic health conditions and is on the rise. It can start in childhood, resolve, recur or develop in adulthood. Many people have both asthma and allergies. Unlike an allergy, asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung. Since your nose connects to your lung, the inflammatory process can occur along the entire airway. Once the airway begins to swell, breathing becomes difficult. Asthmatics are often short of breath and have a feeling of tightness in the chest. All asthmatics should be under a doctor's care to manage their disease, to keep it under control and to keep them healthy.

• Don't panic
• Breathe deep, slow and easy
• Rest
• Take your prescribed asthma medication
• Call for help
• Get to a doctor

The best way to prevent an allergy is to recognize that you have one. Often people confuse an allergy with a cold or flu. Remember colds are short-lived and passed from person to person, whereas allergies are immune system reactions to normally harmless substances. Allergies are best prevented by avoiding exposure to allergens in the first place. A good first step to avoiding allergens is to follow the various PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES outlined for each allergen or irritant.

Signs of an Allergy

• Sneezing, watery eyes or cold symptoms that last more than 10 days without a fever.

• Repeated ear and sinus infections.

• Loss of smell or taste.

• Frequent throat clearing, hoarseness, coughing or wheezing.

• Dark circles under the eyes caused by increased blood flow near the sinuses (allergic shines).

• A crease just above the tip of the nose from constant upward nose wiping (allergic salute).

House Dust

House dust is a component of who you are. House dust is not just dirt but a mixture of potentially allergenic materials, such as: 

• fibers
• food particles
• mold spores
• pollens
• dust mites
• plant & insect parts
• hair, animal fur & feathers
• dried saliva & urine from pets
• flakes of human & animal skin

The more time you spend indoors, particularly in the fall and winter, the greater your exposure to house dust allergens.

Preventive Strategies

• Dust rooms thoroughly with a damp cloth at least once a week.
  
• Wear protective gloves and a dust mask while cleaning to reduce exposure to dust and cleaning irritants.

• Use electric and hot water radiant heaters to provide a cleaner source of heat than "blown air" systems.
  
• Reduce the number of stuffed animals, wicker baskets, dried flowers and other dust collectors around the house.
  
• Replace heavy drapes and blinds with washable curtains or shades.
  
• Replace carpets with washable scatter rugs or bare floors (wood, tile or linoleum).

Food Allergies

Our consumption of food nearly triples during the holiday season. With the scrumptious variety of foods available during the holidays, a food allergy can easily present itself. 

Symptoms of a food allergy can be as simple as skin problems (itchiness, rashes or hives) or intestinal troubles (abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting), or as dangerous as swelling of the respiratory passages, shortness of breath, fainting or anaphylactic shock.

The more common food allergens are:

• egg
• milk
• shellfish
• peanuts
• soy
• wheat

These foods are often hidden as ingredients in casseroles or desserts. You should be aware of what you are eating, but don't limit your diet to only a few foods since a well balanced diet is best. 

Preventive Strategies

• Beware of foods that cause you symptoms.
  
• If you have had severe reactions to a food, talk to your doctor about carrying an epinephrine injector.
  
• Learn to read food labels carefully.
  
• When dining out, ask about the ingredients used in preparing the dish before tasting the food.
  
• If you experience symptoms, avoid any further contact with that food item, rinse your mouth and see a doctor.

Grass

As with tree pollen, grass pollen is regional as well as seasonal. In addition, grass pollen levels can be affected by temperature, time of day and rain.

Of the 1,200 species of grass that grow in North America, only a small percentage of these cause allergies. The most common grasses that can cause allergies are:

• Bermuda grass
• Johnson grass
• Kentucky bluegrass
• Orchard grass
• Sweet vernal grass
• Timothy grass

Many people think animal allergies are caused by the fur or feathers of their pet. In fact, allergies are actually aggravated by: 

 

• proteins secreted by oil glands and shed as dander

   

• proteins in saliva (which stick to fur when animals lick themselves)

   

• aerosolized urine from rodents and guinea pigs

 Keep in mind that you can sneeze with and without your pet being present. Although an animal may be out of sight, their allergens are not. This is because pet allergens are carried on very small particles. As a result pet allergens can remain circulatlng in the air and remain on carpets and furniture for weeks and months after a pet is gone.

Preventive Strategies

• Remove pets from your home if possible.

   

• If pet removal is not possible, keep them out of bedrooms and confined to areas without carpets or upholstered furniture.

   

• Wear a dust mask and gloves when near rodents.

   

• After playing with your pet, wash your hands and clean your clothes to remove pet allergens.

   

• Avoid contact with soiled litter cages.

   

• Dust often with a damp cloth.

Ragweed and other weeds such as curly dock, lambs quarters, pigweed, plantain, sheep sorrel and sagebrush are some of the most prolific producers of pollen allergens.

Although the ragweed pollen season runs from August to November, ragweed pollen levels usually peak in Mid September in many areas in the country.

In addition, pollen counts are highest between 5 - 10 AM and on dry, hot and windy days.

Preventive Strategies

• Avoid the outdoors between 5-10 AM. Save outside activities for late afternoon or after a heavy rain, when pollen levels are lower.
  
  
• Keep windows in your home and car closed to lower exposure to pollen. To keep cool, use air conditioners and avoid using window and attic fans.
  
  
• Be aware that pollen can also be transported indoors on people and pets.
  
  
• Dry your clothes in an automatic dryer rather than hanging them outside. Otherwise pollen can collect on clothing and be carried indoors.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are one of the most common and allergenic of indoor pests.

Recent studies have found a strong association between the presence of cockroaches and increases in the severity of asthma symptoms in individuals who are sensitive to cockroach allergens.

These pests are common even in the cleanest of crowded urban areas and older dwellings. They are found in all types of neighborhoods.

The proteins found in cockroach saliva are particularly allergenic but the body and droppings of cockroaches also contain allergenic proteins.

Preventive Strategies

Preventive Strategies

• If you buy trees for your yard, look for species that do not aggravate allergies such as catalpa, crape myrtle, dogwood, fig, fir, palm, pear, plum, redbud and redwood trees.

   

• Avoid the outdoors between 5-10 am. Save outside activities for late afternoon or after a heavy rain, when pollen levels are lower.

   

• Keep windows in your home and car closed to lower exposure to pollen. To keep cool, use air conditioners and avoid using window and attic fans.

   

• Be aware that pollen can also be transported indoors on people and pets.

   

• Dry your clothes in an automatic dryer rather than hanging them outside. Otherwise pollen can collect on clothing and be carried indoors.

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