Asthma Allergy - What Triggers Your Wheezing?

Asthma allergy is fairly common and afflicts people of all ages including children. If you have this medical condition, you are probably looking for remedies for allergies or ways to ease your symptoms, which can be frightening at times. Asthma is an inflammation and tightening of the airways and that can make it difficult to breathe.

Most people with asthma allergy usually have extended periods where they are symptom free, interrupted by flare-ups of wheezing. An attack can last for days or just a few hours. Other people must contend with their symptoms of wheezing and shortness of breath on a daily basis.

Identifying the triggers for your asthma allergy is important to preventing an attack. Your doctor may give you allergy tests so you can uncover the culprit. Common triggers include cigarette smoke, pollen, mold, pet dander, dust, foods, chemicals, cold weather, stress, infections, and even exercise.

Once you know what might set off an episode of wheezing, you can take steps to avoid it. For example, if cold weather is a trigger, you can attempt to stay indoors as much as possible during the winter and cover your mouth with a scarf if you do go out. If you are allergic to particular foods, you know to avoid them to prevent wheezing.

Controlling asthma allergies usually isn't as simple as avoiding triggers though. Many times you don't know what causes an attack. Your doctor may also prescribe medication that can help. There are two types of drugs your doctor might give you. One of them is quick acting and intended for use during an asthma attack. The other is long acting and is taken to help prevent an attack from happening.

Generally, people with mild asthma allergy take the quick relief medicines whenever they are needed. People who battle the symptoms of asthma on a constant basis use the longer acting drugs. Sometimes an attack is so severe that you might have to go to the hospital for stronger medications delivered through an IV. You may be given oxygen in the hospital as well so you can breathe easier.

Sometimes, you can have advance warning an attack is on the way, if you regularly use a peak flow meter device. This is a small instrument your doctor can give you to use at home, that measures how fast you can blow air out of your lungs. When the readings drop, it is a sign of inflammation and restriction of the airways even though you might not be having symptoms yet. Taking medication at that time may reverse the attack before it gets too bad.

Asthma allergy can become serious if not properly treated. The symptoms and progression of the condition varies among individuals. Some children seem to grow out of it when they get older while others don't. Although there is no cure, the condition can be successfully managed in most cases. The success of your treatment depends upon your commitment to taking your medications or using appropriate remedies for allergies, as advised and avoiding known triggers.