What is an Allergy and What Causes Asthma?

An allergy is an abnormal or increased sensitivity to something that normally shouldn’t cause any reaction. The substance your are reacting to is called an allergen. In most people, the body’s immune system recognizes allergens as harmless, and deals with them without you even being aware of them. In the allergic person the immune system malfunctions and “over reacts” to the allergen as if it were dangerous to the body. The reaction results in the symptoms we associate with allergies including hay fever, hives, eczema and asthma.

Allergy Symptoms and Common Allergens

Case History

On your first visit, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire. This information in very important in helping us diagnose and treat your allergy symptoms. An accurate record of how and when your symptoms occur is vital not only for your first visit but on an ongoing basis. You should always feel free to call our office if your symptoms increase, if you do not understand how to take your medication, or have a reaction to your medication or treatment.

What Causes asthma?

The basic cause of Asthma is not yet known. We do know, however, that is it a lung disease that lasts a lifetime.

The main symptoms of Asthma are shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and coughing. Not all people experience the same symptoms. For some coughing may be the only symptom. Coughing often occurs at night or after exercise.

Treatment can reverse Asthma symptoms. It is important to treat the symptoms so they do not get worse.

During an Asthma episode three things happen. The lining of the airways become inflamed. The airways produce a thick mucus. The muscles are the airways tighten and make the airways narrow. These changes in the airways block the flow of air, making it difficult to breathe.