According To Experts, 70 Percent Of People With Asthma Have Allergies

Asthma illustrations by experts (Pexels/Cottonbro)

JAKARTA – Asthma can be triggered by environmental or genetic conditions. Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the airways of the lungs. When the airways of the lungs become inflamed, there is an increased airway response due to the blockage.

Symptoms experienced in asthma include chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. According to doctor Osman Shabir, Ph.D., reported by News Medical Life Sciences, Thursday, October 14, when these symptoms are experienced suddenly it is known as an asthma attack. Usually inhalers are used as an effective and rapid emergency treatment to combat asthma attacks.

Shabir also explained that the prevalence of asthma worldwide has increased, especially in urban areas which has increased more significantly than those living in rural areas. Environmental factors such as air pollution, climate change, and smoking are the causes of asthma.

While genetic factors can directly cause a person to experience asthma. Shabir further explained, almost half of all people who suffer from asthma have a genetic susceptibility.

“People with no family history of asthma have a 5 percent risk of developing asthma. Having a sibling or parent with asthma increases the risk by up to 25 percent. Having both parents with asthma increases the risk by up to 50 percent. And if you have a monozygotic twin with asthma, the risk increases by up to 75 percent," Shabir wrote.

Yolanda Smith, B. Pharm. adds that as much as 10-15 percent of the population in the United States has asthma and allergies. An estimated 70 percent of individuals with asthma also suffer from allergies. This indicates that there is a possible pathological relationship between the two conditions, asthma and allergies.

Allergic asthma is a type of asthma that is triggered by exposure to certain allergens, such as pollen, dust, mold, and animals. According to Smith, individuals with allergies are more likely to develop asthma than the general population.

Allergic asthma is caused by the immune system's response to release immunoglobulin E (IgE) due to allergens into the lung passages, causing inflammation and swelling. The effect is that the airways become narrower and make it difficult for the individual to breathe normally.

To prevent attacks as well as asthma and allergy flare-ups, a person with this condition needs to avoid triggers. Such as avoiding exposure to allergens and always keeping the immune system in balance.