Allergies And Asthma: How They Are Related

Although allergy and asthma are two different things altogether, they are related to each other. In order to understand one of them one needs to understand the relation between both the terms. While allergy may be defined as a wide range of hypersensitivity disorders, asthma is a disease of the lungs.

If you are allergic to certain things, it means that you are extremely sensitive to certain substances to which people normally do not react. In other words, it is an abnormal reaction or overreaction to certain things.

Allergic reactions include itchy skin, stuffed up nasal cavities, runny noses, sinus aches, rounds of sneezing, irritated, watery and red eyes, puffy, swollen or discoloured eyelids, coughing, a tight chest, scratchy throats, raspy voices, dry unproductive coughs, emotions of lethargy, mental fatigue as well as depression.

Also Read: 7 Foods That Worsen Asthma

People suffering from allergies are at a great risk of being hit with even more permanent, long term health issues like asthma, bronchitis, perennial rhinitis, eczema, dermatitis, sinus infections, along with other serious health problems.

According to popular belief, asthma and allergic ailments are a result of a weak immune system. This is not true. In fact, our body's defense systems work overtime and thus our immune system becomes very sensitive to things which do not pose as a danger to our body.

Allergies and asthma are neither infectious nor contagious. However, it may be the result of genetic predisposition due to which you might become hypersensitive to certain things that ultimately result in allergy or asthma.

Many things can trigger allergy and asthma. Some of these include animal dander, dust mites, pollen grains, mold spores, venom from insects that sting, certain food items and certain drugs.

Allergies and asthma are ongoing physical conditions. They do not cease to exist. Only their severity varies.

Although most of the people who suffer from asthma also have allergies, asthma can develop even without a component that is allergic. It can be a result of non allergic triggers like household cleaners, aerosol products, chemicals, solvents, fumes, gases, paints, air pollution, smoke and tobacco. These act as irritants.