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Allergies / Asthma
What are allergies? Allergies are the immune system's incorrect response to a foreign substance. Exposure to what is normally a harmless substance, such as pollen, causes the immune system to react as if the substance is harmful. Does everyone get allergies? No. Most allergies are inherited, which means they are passed on to children by their parents. People inherit a tendency to be allergic, although not to any specific allergen. Being exposed to allergens at certain times when the body's defenses are low or weak, such as after a viral infection or during pregnancy, also may contribute to the development of allergies. (From the Cleveland Clinic website. See link below.)
What is asthma? Asthma is a chronic lung disease, characterized by recurrent breathing problems caused by airway inflammation. Asthmatics always have sensitive, and swollen or inflamed airways, even when there are no symptoms. What triggers asthma symptoms? People with asthma have inflamed airways that are supersensitive to things that do not bother other people. Although the asthma "triggers" vary from person to person, some of the most common ones include:
- Allergens, substances that cause allergic reaction, which can include dust mites, pollens, molds, pet dander, cockroaches and their waste.
- Irritants in the air, including smoke from tobacco, wood fires or charcoal grills, as well as other strong fumes or odors, including household sprays, paint, gasoline, perfume and scented soaps.
- Respiratory infections, such as colds, flu, sore throats and sinus infections.
- Exercise and other activities that make a person breathe harder.
- Weather, especially dry wind, cold air and sudden changes.
Who gets asthma? An estimated 22 million Americans suffer from asthma, 6.5 million of whom are under the age of 18. Asthma is the leading chronic illness of children in the United States and the leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness. Asthma leads to 2 million emergency room visits and 5,000 deaths per year in the U.S. The number of deaths due to asthma, the number of Americans diagnosed with asthma, the health care costs of asthma continue to increase each year. (From US Environmental Protection Agency - http://www.epa.gov/asthma/pdfs/asthma_fact_sheet_en.pdf )
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