While perhaps the common allergy induced asthma (in forms of sneezing, coughing or difficulty breathing) is most often caused by pollens and other airborne substances, more severe cases of asthmatic attacks can come from food and pet allergies. You may have heard about or witnessed an acute asthmatic attack from an allergic response to peanuts, carrots or even cats. In such cases, it is extremely important that you know how to deal with such emergency, as the asthmatic attack can quickly lead to the inability to breathe or unconsciousness.
We will look into the two common allergens of asthmatic allergy, namely food and pets. People have varying degrees of sensitivity to these allergens. Allergic reactions can occur not only through the direct consumption of food, but also through simple skin contact or even airborne odor. People living for a prolonged period with cats and dogs may develop chronic asthmatic symptoms and can suffer an acute asthmatic attack when exposed to an excess of cat or dog fur.
Allergy Induced Asthma due to Food
More than anything, if you are suspicious that you have some sort of allergic reaction to a certain type of food, you should consult a doctor to take a blood test or allergen response test. While food can cause various symptoms as skin irritation, swelling in the throat, and others, an asthma food allergy is one of the most severe symptoms that needs to be treated swiftly and must be prevented by all means.
It may sound obvious, but the most important prevention of food allergy induced asthma is to know what you are allergic to, and make sure you avoid any contact or consumption of the allergen. People occasionally forget about their allergy especially dining out. In cases that you do encounter an acute asthmatic attack due to food, it is very important to react swiftly to the first symptoms. Any difficulty breathing or if wheezing starts, take asthma relieving medication through inhalers, and if the condition worsens, find medical help immediately.
Dealing with Asthma Pet Allergies
Even if you are not a pet lover, you will encounter pets in your life especially if you are living in the United States. A considerable number of people have allergic asthma reactions to cats and dogs, (especially to cat hair), and the carpet environment of most homes create a situation for cat fur to accumulate. Compared to asthma food allergy, pet allergies usually have less acute symptoms.
People having lived with cats for a long time may report to have chronic allergy induced asthma. While you may not want to admit that your beloved cat is the cause, you still want to check with your doctor the reason for frequent sneezing or pressure in the chest. Your doctor can give you a skin test or blood test through RAST (radioallergosorbent test), which will determine your allergies.
To prevent asthma pet allergies, it is best to avoid contact with cats or dogs as much as possible, and if this is impossible in your case, make sure the carpet is regularly cleaned, and have someone without pet allergies to frequently brush or clean the pet.