Asthma is a common respiratory condition that affects 1 in 11 people in the UK. With the changes in the world environment like air pollution, pollen and climate, the average number of diagnosed asthma conditions is growing during the last years. Even though it is confirmed that asthma is affected by particles like dust and pollen, there could be more underlying causes and factors that might be contributing to the severity of asthma. In order to answer all of your questions about the impact of underlying conditions on asthma, read this Pharmica article.
What conditions affect your asthma?
Having Allergies:
One of the most widespread types of asthma is allergy-related asthma that is triggered by elements like mould, pollens and dust. This condition is called allergic rhinitis and is usually associated with a burning sensation in your nose as well as constant sneezing and coughing.
These symptoms are most common during warmer periods where the plantation is producing excessive amounts of pollen, triggering allergies. It is important to remember that other elements like mould or dust can trigger asthma too, outside of those warm seasons.
Another type of condition is Eczema that can be triggered by allergies, where your skin becomes itchy and irritated. Even though this condition can occur among people who do not suffer from asthma, it is also common to have it among people who are diagnosed with asthma or allergic rhinitis. Finally, food allergies are also common among individuals diagnosed with asthma.
To conclude, being diagnosed with asthma can be a contributing factor to having allergies to various triggers and causing symptoms like feeling breathless and coughing, increasing the risk of an asthma attack. A similar case can be applied to food allergies, where the potential trigger could lead to life-threatening asthma attacks.
Having Sinusitis
Being diagnosed with asthma also shows a common correlation with sinusitis, where your nasal passages are having uncomfortable symptoms like burning sensation, which is similar to allergies, as well as headaches and pains. It is also important to know that the runny nose caused by sinusitis causes post-nasal drip down your throat, making your asthma cough worse.
Having Acid Reflux/Heartburn Conditions
When your stomach acid reaches your oesophagus, it irritates its lining and that is how you experience heartburn. This is a common condition called acid reflux and can have an impact on your asthma and other health conditions like sleep apnea. The common causes of acid reflux is smoking and consumption of alcohol, as well as being obese, which are common asthma triggers, deteriorating your control over asthma even further.
Being Obese or Overweight
Having a high BMI and being diagnosed with obesity can make the asthma attacks and asthma symptoms significantly worse, affecting your body and its ability to control asthma. This condition might have a serious impact on your body, increasing the risks that you will need to use an asthma reliever inhaler like Ventolin at all times. In the long run, being overweight can also put a strain on your heart and respiratory system, overall worsening your body ability to fight off other conditions and diseases.
In summary, always make sure that you have an emergency inhaler on you at all time to ensure that you can prevent the consequences of an asthma attack, even if you are not diagnosed with any of the medical conditions mentioned above. These attacks can be lethal and having the right treatment on you can save your life in case if these events do take place.
