GIRL POWER SEPTEMBER 2013 | Page 27

Do Allergies Cause Asthma? Do allergies cause asthma? The answer to this questions is: yes and no. People who have certain kinds of allergies are more likely to have asthma. Which kind of allergies? Usually, the type of allergies that affect your nose and eyes, causing problems like a runny nose or red, itchy eyes. Whatever causes an allergic reaction, such as pollen or dust mites, can also trigger asthma symptoms. Not everyone who has allergies develops asthma. Not all cases of asthma are related to allergies. About 23 million people in the United States have asthma. Of these, about 70% have an allergy to something. Many of these people find their asthma symptoms get worse when they’re exposed to certain allergens (things that can cause allergic reactions). Common allergens include dust mites, mold, pollen and animal dander. Parents who have allergies or asthma often pass along the tendency to have these conditions to their kids. If you have allergies, your immune system reacts to these allergens as if the allergens were invading the body. To fight the allergen, your immune system produces an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). When the IgE combines with the allergen, a process is set in motion that results in the release of certain substances in the body. One of the substances released is histamine, which causes allergic symptoms that can affect the eyes, nose, throat, skin, gastrointestinal tract or lungs. When the airways in the lungs are affected, symptoms of asthma (such as coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing) can occur. The body remembers this reaction, so each time the allergen comes into contact with the body, the same thing can happen because of that, allergies can make it difficult for some people to keep their asthma under control.