Approximately 25 million Americans have asthma and more than 50 million suffer from various types of allergies every year.
May marks National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. This annual awareness month was started by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America as a way to educate families and communities to improve the lives of those living with asthma and allergies.
Today, we’ll talk about ways you can improve your asthma and allergy symptoms.
Allergies and asthma often go hand in hand, causing troublesome symptoms ranging from sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. It is thought that many cases of asthma result from an allergic reaction that causes inflammation of the lungs.
Luckily, if you have asthma and/or allergies there are very effective ways to manage your condition.
Treatment Options for Allergies & Asthma
For both conditions, it is worth noting what your triggers are. For asthma, these can be anything from extreme weather changes, tobacco smoke, air pollution, pests, pets, chemicals, exercise, and allergies.
Allergies typically fall into the following categories: food, drug, insect, pollen, pet, latex, and mold. A great way to find out what your specific allergies are is to get a skin test.
Asthma
- Medication (Quick-relief such as a rescue inhaler, and long-term medicine)
- Corticosteroids to fight inflammation
- Bronchodilators to open your airways
- Immunotherapy (allergy shots)
Allergies
- Epinephrine for serious, anaphylaxis-causing reactions
- Over-the-counter medication such as pills, nasal sprays, or eyedrops
- Anti-histamines
- Steroids
- Immunotherapy
Asthma and Allergy Practitioner in Louisville, KY
Dr. John Manire can help you learn more about your asthma and allergies and develop a treatment plan that works for you. Symptoms that interfere with your daily life should be taken seriously. At Our Family Direct Primary Care, we offer allergy skin testing and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) aka allergy drops for members. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help improve your allergies.