Can Seasonal Allergies Trigger Asthma?

Seasonal allergies and asthma have more in common than you think. Some of the same symptoms that trigger seasonal allergies can also cause your asthma to act up. In fact, about four in five people who have seasonal allergies also have allergy induced asthma. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what seasonal asthma is, the symptoms of allergic asthma, and when you should seek allergic asthma treatment from a primary or urgent care physician. Get a personalized treatment plan that can help you alleviate your allergy asthma symptoms.

What Causes Seasonal Asthma?

If you experience wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath that seems to get worse during certain times of the year, you may have seasonal asthma, which makes your airways extra sensitive to certain things. Can asthma be seasonal? Yes, it can. With seasonal asthma, you may have triggers that affect you during more than one season, and your symptoms may even disappear for a few months until you are exposed to the allergen again.

Seasonal Allergies are Not Just for Spring

When most people think of allergy season, spring comes to mind. While it’s true that pollen is a major cause of most allergies, you can be exposed to triggers all year round. While most allergies cause itchy eyes, runny nose, congestion, and sneezing, they can sometimes cause additional asthma and allergy symptoms.

Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies and Asthma

Seasonal allergies and asthma share many of the same symptoms, although asthma may cause a few additional ones.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies include:

• Runny nose and itchy, watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Congestion
• Postnasal drip
• Fatigue
• Coughing

If you have seasonal allergies and asthma (allergic asthma), additional symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness or pain
• Wheezing
• Waking up at night

Common Triggers for Seasonal Allergies and Asthma

When you’re exposed to allergens, your immune system goes into overdrive, releasing histamines that lead to allergy symptoms. For individuals with asthma, this immune response can also affect the lungs. Allergy-induced asthma can be triggered by a variety of allergens and environmental factors, that’s why understanding these triggers is essential for controlling symptoms, as they can vary from person to person and may be influenced by environmental changes or seasons. Common triggers for allergy induced asthma include:

• Pollen from trees and flowers
• Mold and mildew, both indoors and outdoors
• Dust mites
• Cockroaches
• Pet Dander
• High humidity can tighten your airways and make it difficult to breathe
• Cold air can increase the production of histamines, especially if you exercise outdoors on cold days
• Smoke
• Air pollution

5 Tips for Managing Seasonal Allergies and Asthma

While you can’t completely avoid seasonal allergies and asthma, there are some steps you can take to prevent your symptoms from getting worse:

Keep windows closed.

Especially during the morning and on rainy days, to keep pollen from entering your home.

Avoid dust mites and reduce pet dander.

Wash your sheets and other bedding in hot water at least once a week and clean rugs, curtains, and floors with a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.

Reduce mold.

Make sure your kitchen and bathroom are dry and eliminate any leaks that can cause mold.

Wear a scarf.

Cover your mouth and nose when it’s cold outside to help humidify the air.

Use HEPA filters.

HEPA filters in your HVAC system can help remove smoke and other small particles from the air that are known to cause allergies.

How Is Seasonal Asthma Diagnosed?

After a physical exam and discussing your symptoms, your healthcare provider may perform a number of tests to determine if you have asthma related to seasonal allergies. Tests may include:

1. Spirometry: This test determines how much air you can exhale and how fast you can breathe out, which can estimate the narrowness of your bronchial tubes.
2. Bronchoprovocation testing: Similar to a spirometry test, this uses a medication called methacholine to see if it causes your airways to constrict.
3. Peak flow: A peak flow meter measures how hard you can breathe out. If you have a low peak flow reading, it may mean that your lungs are not working properly.
4. Allergy tests: Skin or blood tests can determine what triggers your seasonal allergies and asthma.
5. Blood tests: These measure the amount of histamines in your blood, which can help diagnose the irritants that cause your allergic asthma.

Seasonal Allergic Asthma Treatments: What Can Help

At AllCare, your doctor has access to a wide range of asthma and allergy treatments designed to help you regain control over your breathing. Our healthcare professionals have many medication treatment options that may alleviate your seasonal asthma symptoms, including:

• Leukotriene modifiers, like Singulair®, can help treat breathing problems associated with asthma and allergies. Used according to directions, they can help keep your airways open and reduce the number and severity of seasonal asthma attacks.
• Rescue inhalers with corticosteroids offer quick relief, helping you breathe better during a seasonal allergy attack. If they don’t help manage your asthma, your healthcare provider may prescribe other long-lasting medications or treatments. You can also take oral corticosteroids to help reduce your allergic asthma symptoms.

When Should You See a Doctor for Seasonal Allergies and Asthma?

If you have asthma brought on by seasonal allergies, your doctor can create a personalized allergic asthma treatment plan that can help you avoid triggers, manage your symptoms, and feel better. If preventative measures and existing medications aren’t helping or your symptoms are getting worse, contact your doctor if you notice:

• You need a rescue inhaler more often
• Have a cough that won’t go away
• Feel lightheaded or dizzy
• Take medication that doesn’t control your shortness of breath or wheezing

Please note: Seek emergency care if you develop a blue color on your lips or fingernails, are unable to talk or walk at your normal pace without becoming winded, experience rapid breathing, or notice flaring nostrils when inhaling. These symptoms may indicate that you’re having an asthma attack.

Walk-in Asthma and Allergy Treatment at AllCare

At AllCare, we understand how important it is to get your seasonal allergies and asthma under control so you can get back to the things you love quickly. Our dedicated doctors can provide comprehensive exams, asthma and allergy testing, and treatment to determine the cause of your symptoms. If you have recurring allergy induced asthma or asthma that is not well-controlled with the treatments we provide, our integrated care model means you can see one of our primary care physicians for further testing and treatment in the same convenient location. Schedule an appointment at one of our urgent care centers today.