The relationship between hay fever and asthma
Most people who suffer from asthma also have other allergies, which may include hay fever. Asthma affects people of all ages, but often develops in childhood. Boys are more likely to have asthma than girls, but in adulthood, more women are likely to be affected than men.
In brief, asthma is a chronic disease in which a person’s airways become inflamed and are therefore sensitive to certain substances, known as irritants or allergens. The allergic reaction in asthma causes the airways to become narrower, allowing less air through to the lungs. Extra mucus is also produced, and these two things together make breathing difficult, causing wheezing, coughing and chest tightness.
Asthma attacks vary a great deal in intensity. If very severe, the airways can actually close so that insufficient oxygen reaches the lungs and other vital organs. This situation constitutes a medical emergency, as anaphylactic shock and even death can result – though in very rare cases. If you have asthma, your doctor will prescribe medication such as salbutamol (brand name Ventolin) or montelu-kast (brand name Singulair) which it is important that you keep with you wherever you go. Recognizing and avoiding your particular triggers can make a vast difference. The same allergenic substances as in hay fever can trigger attacks, such as pollen, mould spores, dung from house dust mites and animal dander.
The following can also trigger an asthma attack:
• stress
• environmental pollutants
• strongly perfumed household products
• tobacco smoke
• changes in weather
• cold air
• strong-smelling paints
• extremes of emotional expression, such as laughing and crying.
People with asthma often find that their wheezing and breathlessness worsen during a hay fever episode. Indeed, some people experience asthma symptoms only in the course of the hay fever season. Researchers have suggested that an exacerbation of any other allergy can either cause or worsen an asthma attack.
If you think that you might have symptoms of asthma and have not yet seen your doctor, you should do so as soon as possible. Tests will help to diagnose the condition, after which you will be offered the appropriate treatment.