Allergic Asthma Causes, Symptoms, and Testing

Overview
Causes and Triggers
Common Symptoms
Frequently Asked Questions
Testing and Management
Clinical Resources

What is allergic asthma?  

Allergic asthma, or allergy-induced asthma, is a type of asthma that is triggered or made worse by allergies. Exposure to allergens (e.g., pollen, dander, mold, etc.) or irritants to which patients are sensitized may increase asthma symptoms and precipitate asthma exacerbations in patients who have asthma.1 Asthma and allergies often go hand in hand. In fact, up to 90 percent of children and 60 percent of adults with asthma suffer from allergies.2,3  

Asthma, the chronic and complex inflammatory disorder that narrows the airways, is a serious public health problem that affects both children and adults. Approximately 250,000 people worldwide die each year from asthma, and almost all of these deaths are avoidable.4 

Asthma and Allergic Triggers: How to Improve Asthma

It’s vital to identify underlying allergic triggers. Get answers with a blood test.

Common Allergic Asthma Causes and Triggers

 

Many of the same substances that can cause an allergic reaction may also affect people with asthma. Common allergens that may trigger allergic asthma include:

 

Animal Dander
Dust Mites
Insects
Pollen
Mold

Are you a healthcare provider looking for a comprehensive list of allergic asthma allergens and associated symptoms? 

Explore our fact sheets, an easily sharable, patient-friendly resource that includes cross reactivities, component names, and management plans.

Discover Allergen Fact Sheets

Allergic Asthma Symptoms

Asthma usually presents as one or more of the following symptoms:4

  • Wheezing 
  • Coughing 
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest tightness 

Symptoms may occur in connection with allergen exposure, exercise, cold air, dry air, and airway infections. Other irritants, such as strong scents or cigarette smoke, may also trigger an exacerbation. To manage allergic asthma, it is important to identify and minimize exposure to allergic triggers.

An asthma attack may be triggered by exposure to an allergen. During an asthma attack, the muscles that surround the bronchial tubes constrict, narrowing the air passages and making it extremely difficult to breathe.5 Fortunately, almost everyone who receives treatment recovers from even the most severe asthma attacks.6

It’s important to uncover the allergens that may exacerbate asthma to properly manage and decrease the risk of asthma attacks. Seek emergency care if experiencing one of the following symptoms:

·   Difficulty breathing
·   Severe chest pain
·   Difficulty walking or talking
·   Blue tint to the skin

Learn about testing
It has been shown that reducing exposure to confirmed allergy triggers can have a significant impact on the ability to control asthma with fewer symptoms, fewer hospital visits, and improved quality of life.7-9

Frequently Asked Questions About Allergies and Asthma

Most patients with asthma have multiple allergic sensitizations contributing to their allergen load.10,11 These allergen sensitizations can add to the patient’s trigger load, eventually resulting in asthma exacerbations—even from other, non-allergic, triggers.10,12 For those with asthma and aeroallergy (i.e., an allergy to airborne substances, such as pollen or mold spores), in addition to pharmaceutical strategies, reducing exposure to sensitized allergens can alleviate or reduce symptoms.13-17

The allergen symptom threshold is the point at which the cumulative allergen load leads to symptoms.18,19 Read more about the symptom threshold.

Anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status can be affected by asthma.

There is no cure for asthma, so your best defense is to learn if you have underlying triggers and then limit your exposure to them. Start the conversation by going over a list of your symptoms. Knowing the types of symptoms experienced and when they occur can help a healthcare provider determine if you may be a candidate for allergy testing. 

Yes. Reducing exposure to one or more allergic triggers may help reduce symptoms. This can only be accomplished by working with a healthcare professional to understand your unique allergy profile. Start the conversation by filling out our symptom tracker.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to outgrow asthma or for it to go away. Asthma is a chronic disease that permanently changes your lungs’ airways.6 It is possible for symptoms and attacks to lessen or get better over time. However, there may always be a risk for those symptoms to return.

Allergic Asthma Testing and Management  

With allergic asthma, medical history is often not enough to make an accurate allergy diagnosis. For example, a patient can present with a history indicative of house dust mite or cat allergy but actually not be sensitized.20 Identifying and reducing exposure to allergens to which patients are sensitized can reduce the risk of induced asthma exacerbations, particularly in the case of house dust mite sensitization.1 

It is also important to identify and treat other allergic conditions. For example, both allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis are risk factors for the development of asthma.21 More than 80 percent of people with asthma also suffer from rhinitis, suggesting the concept of “one airway, one disease.”4 The presence of allergic rhinitis commonly exacerbates asthma, increasing the risk of asthma attacks, emergency visits, and hospitalizations for asthma.22-26

A blood test—together with an allergy-focused medical history—may help identify underlying allergen triggers.  

Four Questions to Ask a Healthcare Provider About Asthma

It’s vital to identify underlying allergic triggers. 

Get answers with a blood test
Up to 90 percent of patients are sensitized to more than one allergen.11 The effect is cumulative: A patient may have a number of triggers, which combined may lead to symptoms.7,12

Practice Parameters and Guidelines for Allergic Asthma

Guidelines recommend factors that trigger or exacerbate asthma be identified routinely and documented in the medical records and personal asthma action plans of all patients with asthma.27 Reducing exposure to one or more allergic triggers can help reduce symptoms and the need for medication.28

Practice parameters have been developed to classify and manage treatment of asthma, and guideline-directed management has been shown to improve disease control.29

Explore Practice Parameter & Guidelines
Attaining Optimal Asthma Control-Practice Parameter-2005
Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction-Practice Parameter Update-2016
Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma-Practice Parameter-1995
Management of Acute Loss of Asthma Control in the Yellow Zone-Practice Parameter-2014
Algorithm for Diagnosis and Management of Asthma-Practice Parameter Update-1998
Allergic Rhinitis and Impact on Asthma-Guidelines-2016
Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma-Practice Parameter-1995
Definition, Evaluation, and Treatment of Severe Asthma-Guidelines-International ERS

Tools for Understanding Allergies

 

Track allergy symptoms and prepare for a visit with a healthcare provider.

Track your symptoms

Learn about specific allergens, including common symptoms, management, and relief. 

Allergen Fact Sheets

Are you a healthcare provider? Get comprehensive information on hundreds of whole allergens and allergen components.

Allergen Encyclopedia

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