Airborne allergens such pollens, dust mites, moulds, or a combination of these can cause hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis. The allergic reaction causes the nose to become irritated, swollen, and unusually sensitive or inflamed. The outcome of the condition is a runny or blocked nose, which can cause irritation or soreness in the eyes, throat, and nose.
While allergic rhinitis impairs quality of life, this article examines the connection between hay fever and asthma.
What connection exists between asthma and hay fever?
Managing asthma can be more challenging if you also have allergic rhinitis. The two medical conditions are interconnected in the following ways:
- Triggers for the two conditions are similar. Allergens that cause hay fever irritate the nose, resulting in symptoms including sneezing, itchy eyes, and a blocked or runny nose. When allergic rhinitis flares up, it can aggravate asthma by inflaming the airways, causing symptoms like wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath.
- An overreactive immunological response is a significant cause of both the conditions. The immune system misinterprets harmless substances in allergy sufferers, causing the release of molecules like histamines that cause inflammation.
- Both hay fever and asthma are also connected anatomically and functionally. Because of the connection between the upper and lower respiratory tracts, allergic rhinitis-induced nasal inflammation exacerbates asthmatic symptoms, and vice versa.
- People who have allergic rhinitis are typically more likely to develop asthma, particularly if they are exposed to allergens for a prolonged period of time or if their hay fever is not adequately or appropriately managed.
- Most significantly, both asthma and hay fever are part of an allergic march, in which many allergic reactions might appear one after the other in a sequential order, frequently beginning in childhood.
Is it possible to manage asthma and hay fever together?
Asthma attacks are made worse by untreated allergic rhinitis; timely and appropriate therapy can help manage severe episodes. Most therapies are intended for managing the two conditions individually. While limiting exposure to known allergens or triggers and regularly evaluating both are always important, certain therapies can be helpful for both conditions:
Leukotriene modifiers or modulators:
These are medications that may reduce the severity of symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis. This daily medication helps in regulating the chemicals generated by the immune system during an allergic reaction.
Allergy shots:
Allergy shots are a form of immunotherapy that involves your doctor or allergist injecting small amounts of the allergens—substances to which an individual is allergic—under the skin. This can help the body “get used to” the allergen, which may lead to less severe or fewer allergic rhinitis symptoms.
These injections not only help lessen sensitivity to allergens, which may lead to fewer or milder symptoms, but they may also play a role in preventing kids with allergic rhinitis from developing asthma.
The anti-immunoglobulin E therapy:
This therapeutic form prevents IgE antibodies from working. An allergy occurs when your immune system misidentifies a particular substance as harmful and produces antibodies, called IgE, against the problematic allergen.
As a result, when one comes into contact with that allergen again, the IgE antibodies detect it and instruct the immune system to release histamine and other chemicals against the allergen in the circulation.
This therapy helps stop the allergic reaction that causes asthma symptoms by interfering with the body’s production of IgE. Although it may also help with allergic rhinitis, this medicine is recommended for more severe cases of allergic asthma.
How can patients with asthma minimise the impact of hay fever?
Patients with asthma can reduce the impact of hay fever by:
- staying away from triggers. One way to lessen exposure to allergies is to stay indoors on days with high pollen levels and also avoid food allergens, if any. Another way to keep allergies out of the house is to use air conditioning and close the windows.
- Controlling the hay fever symptoms with medicines for asthmatics. By reducing sneezing, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion, antihistamines, nasal sprays, and decongestants help stop inflammation from extending to the airways. To help the body gradually grow less sensitive to allergens, a doctor may also suggest any of the above mentioned therapies, if necessary.
- Following an asthma treatment plan. This may include using a preventive inhaler regularly to keep the airways clear and reduce the risk of asthma attacks. It’s important for asthma patients to always carry their rescue inhaler in case of sudden or acute symptoms.
By managing hay fever with proper treatment, asthma patients can reduce the chances of flare-ups and minimise the overall impact on their breathing. Regular check-ups with a doctor can help ensure both conditions are under control.
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