The Severity of Allergy Asthma

Asthma represents a life-threatening disease that affects the lungs. This health condition is known to be chronic, which means that it lasts for a prolonged period of time. The main characteristic of asthma is the fact that the respiratory ways are irritated. Because of this fact, respiration is performed with a significant difficulty. According to statistical data, 20 million people have asthma in the United States. Half of them have a particular type of asthma called allergy asthma. Among these 10 million people, 30 percent are children. This makes allergy asthma the most common form of this health condition. However, it is very important to know that asthma can be actually held under control.

Allergy asthma is characterized by certain symptoms. In addition, it has been reported that allergy asthma and non-allergic asthma share most of the symptoms. People who have asthma commonly experience coughing, breathlessness, wheezing and pain in the chest. In some cases, the shortness of breath is replaced by rapid breathing. Most frequently, the allergens that lead to allergy asthma is among the following: dust mites, pollen, mold and small pet skin flakes. The scientists have not been able to determine the way the allergic reaction is caused. It is known that these allergens enter the respiratory ways and irritate them.

In fact, allergy asthma is not caused by the allergens, even though these play an important role, too. The element that triggers the appearance of asthma is, in fact, an antibody named lgE. This represents a chemical substance that is set free in the body when contact with the allergens is made. The longer the exposure to the allergens, the more lgE is released into the body. In consequence, the severity of allergy asthma depends on the period of time people expose themselves to the allergens that have been mentioned before. When this antibody makes contact with the allergens, some chemical substances, named mediators, result. The mediators are the ones that irritate the respiratory ways, fact that leads to allergy asthma.

Allergists and immunologists ask the doctors to perform the diagnosis of allergy asthma. People are urged to look for medical advice as soon as they observe the symptoms of this health condition. After performing the diagnosis, the doctor is able to prescribe a treatment that usually is based on medication that neutralizes lgE. People will discover that the symptoms are improved considerably if the treatment is followed with strict obedience.