Do You Have Asthma? Chances Are That You Have Allergies, Too
Good timing: with spring right around the corner, researchers are warning that people who suffer from asthma may also have to worry about this coming allergy season. Over two-thirds of asthmatic adults also have some type of allergy, a new study suggests.
A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey took a sample population of 2,573 adults (some of them asthma suffers and some not) and introduced them to 19 allergens. The goal was to see if the allergens would be more or less likely prompt an allergic reaction in those with asthma versus those without. The conclusion of the study found that 75 percent of asthmatic adults between ages 20 and 40, and 65 percent of asthmatic adults over the age of 55 had at least one type of allergy.
Asthma is a lung disease that can cause problems with breathing such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pains. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's data from 2010 estimated that 18.7 million adults and 7 million children suffered from asthma in the United States.
"Both asthma and allergies can strike at any age, and are serious diseases," said allergist Richard Weber, MD, ACAAI president. "Anyone who thinks they may be having symptoms of an allergy or asthma should see a board-certified allergist. Allergists are experts in diagnosing and treating both conditions."
The entire study is published in the April issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
Dr. Weber also included the hygiene hypothesis, climate change and an increase in awareness and education as attributing factors to this "perfect storm" for allergies this season The ACAAI offers free asthma and allergy screening through the ACAAI Nationwide Asthma Screening Program.