Allergy Induced Asthma

Allergy induced asthma is a condition that I personally have had for the past forty years. Over 90% of individuals who suffer from asthma have an asthma attack brought on by an allergic response to a foreign substance – commonly known as a trigger. Asthma I often referred to as the modern day plague with several hundred million in the developed world, but increasingly in the developing world – the Philippines has a higher search
volume in Google for asthma than even the USA.

I have studied in detail the literature and scientific data on the subject. This site is my story about my journey so that the research and experiences will be of benefit to you, all this is done in plain English I have tried to avoid scientific terms where possible, even although my background is as a chemistry graduate Yes the majority of information is available in a hundred places on the internet but what I have tried to do is give you a one stop source of up to date information on allergic asthma

Allergy Induced Asthma

is not a disease but an immunological disorder for which there is NO cure. However there are many treatments which will alleviate the symptoms during an attack and to prevent you
having an asthma attack. There are two types of prescription inhalers available – commonly referred to as

• Rescue inhalers – short term use during an asthma attack
• Preventers – long term use for control of the condition

The easiest way to reduce the frequency of allergy induced asthma attacks is to change your lifestyle. In addition there are an increasing number of individuals turning to natural asthma treatments due to long term
effect of using bronchodiliators and steroid based inhalers

What happens during an allergy induced asthma attack?

The purpose of the immune system is to protect the body from attack by bacteria and viruses, unfortunately in allergic asthma the body’s immune system treats the allergens or “trigger” as an attack and releases chemicals to fight the body invaders.

During an attack the muscles surrounding the bronchial tubes – these carry air to the lungs, become inflamed, reducing the flow of air to the lungs. In addition the tiny hairs – cilia lining the bronchial tubes produce excess mucus, also making it increasingly difficult to breath

The common treatment for an asthma attack is to use a short term acting
bronchial dilator inhaler such as Ventolin in severe cases the individual may have to be hospitalised and/or use nebuliser

What are the Common Triggers of Asthma?

I did not follow the usual pattern of asthma in that it was not diagnosed till I was in my mid twenties, it is believed that allergic asthma starts out in childhood with food and skin allergies and this can develop into chronic allergic asthma, although many children grow out of asthma – as did my grandson
in his early teens. When he was 5 or 6 he spent some time hospitalised.

Analysing the situation now it is apparent the signs were there as had an allergic response to penicillin when young and have food allergy to anything in a shell – shellfish, snails, crab – however never had these as a child and it was only later on business trips that I found out had an allergy to these foods.

I initially started having a problem with allergic asthma, when I bought an old property in Largs on the West Coast of Scotland, it had been occupied by two elderly women, we started to renovate the property and then I started to have shortness of breath, tightness of chest, eventually going to the doctor.

I was diagnosed with allergy induced asthma, the allergic response was brought on by dried urine in the carpets – both women had been incontinent. At this stage I don’t think I had heard of

After several months of treatment my shortness of breath did not improve and that was when discovered the next “trigger”. We were stripping the walls in our bedroom and there were black patches on the wall at chimney – soot, which is very corrosive, was eating through the wall and soot particles were coming into the atmosphere. Soot is another household allergen.

I have listed below some of the common triggers of allergy induced asthma – I am sure that you are aware of them already but one thing you have to remember is that allergens are person specific – what causes an allergic response in one asthma sufferer may not induce an allergic response in another asthma sufferer

• dust mites
• animal dander
• pollens
• indoor moulds
• cockroaches
• tobacco smoke
• infections
• strong odours
• stress
• exercise
• respiratory infections
• hormones