Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

ASTHMA as allergy season returns

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After winter’s cold, we welcome spring with open arms here in Northwest Arkansas. Things are greening up, flowers are blooming, but unfortunat­ely, it’s also peak allergy season.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States. For many people, allergies are a minor seasonal nuisance that are overcome by taking over-thecounter medication­s or staying indoors on days when allergen levels are especially high.

But the World Allergy Organizati­on notes that a history of allergies is a known risk factor for developing asthma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 13 people have asthma—more than 25 million Americans. That’s 7.7 percent of adults and 8.4 percent of children. Asthma has been increasing since the early 1980s in all age, sex and racial groups.

Allergic asthma, where allergies trigger asthma symptoms, is the most common type of asthma. Children who have allergies and also have asthma make up 80 percent of those affected. Among young adults (age 20-40) 75 percent have at least one allergy and asthma. For those aged 55 and older the rate is 65 percent.

What is asthma?

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute defines asthma as a chronic condition that affects airways in the lungs. The airways carry air in and out of the lungs, and when people have asthma, these airways can become inflamed and narrow, compromisi­ng a person’s ability to breathe.

Who gets asthma?

Many asthma patients are diagnosed during childhood. The ACAAI reports that most children with asthma exhibit symptoms prior to their fifth birthdays. Asthma symptoms also may appear in adults older than 20, and such instances may be attributed to adult-onset asthma. Certain adults may be more likely to get adult-onset asthma than others. For example, WebMD reports that women who are experienci­ng hormonal changes, such as those who are pregnant or in menopause, may be more likely to get adult-onset asthma.

A lung function test and a methacholi­ne challenge test are two ways doctors can detect adultonset asthma.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

The ACCAI notes that it can be hard to recognize symptoms of asthma in very young children. That’s because the bronchial tubes in infants, toddlers and preschool-aged youngsters are already small and narrow. Head colds, chest colds and other illnesses may further narrow these airways. So symptoms of asthma could be mistakenly associated with colds or other illnesses. A nagging cough that lingers for days or weeks or sudden, scary breathing emergencie­s are two symptoms of pediatric asthma. Parents also can be on the lookout for these symptoms:

· Coughing, especially at night

· A wheezing or whistling sound when breathing, especially when exhaling

· Trouble breathing or fast breathing that causes the skin around the ribs or neck to pull in tightly

· Frequent colds that settle in the chest

Like pediatric asthma, adult-onset asthma can be easy to miss. That’s because of natural changes in muscles and a stiffening of chest walls, both of which are associated with aging and therefore often attributed to age. The symptoms of adultonset asthma are similar to those of pediatric asthma, and adults who suspect they might be experienci­ng asthma symptoms despite no history of the condition can ask doctors to conduct some specific tests designed to detect asthma. A lung function test and a methacholi­ne challenge test are two ways doctors can detect adult-onset asthma.

Allergy season has arrived, and that could make some people more vulnerable to asthma. More informatio­n about asthma is available at www.accai.org.

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