Allergic Asthma
Friday, May 19, 2006

Of the 17 million Americans suffering from asthma, 60 percent have an allergic type of asthma. Dr. Ken Davis discusses allergic asthma and its treatment in today’s 60 Second Housecall.

Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Its symptoms are made worse by exposure to an allergen to which the patient has been sensitized.

The symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same. They include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. These symptoms are often provoked by an identifiable trigger.

An asthma attack may last anywhere from a few minutes to a period of days and range from mild to severe. It can become a medical emergency.

Inhaled allergens, such as pet dander, molds or dust mites, often trigger asthma episodes.  One key strategy for reducing asthma attacks is avoiding the allergens that set it off.

Asthma is treated with medications including anti-inflammatory agents, such as corticosteroids and anti-leukotrienes that decrease inflammation in the lungs, and bronchodilators used for relief of symptoms. Allergen immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, is a program of injections that reduces allergic sensitization. Asthma is serious, so you should be serious about its treatment.

For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.