Good Health - Medical Directory Spring 2022 | Page 7

GOOD HEALTH 2022 | 7
HEALTH FOCUS

Understanding asthma as allergy season returns

The arrival of spring and summer is typically welcomed with open arms . Warm air , green grass , colorful flowers , and , of course , vacations are just a few of the many reasons to celebrate spring and summer . Spring and summer also marks the return of allergy season . According to the American College of Allergy , Asthma , and Immunology , allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States . A 2017 survey found that 27 percent of Canadians age 12 and older reported having allergies . For many people , allergies are a minor seasonal nuisance that are overcome by taking over-the-counter medications or staying indoors on days when allergen levels are especially high . But the World Allergy Organization notes that a history of allergies is a known risk factor for developing asthma . In fact , Statistics Canada reports that , among people diagnosed with allergies , 63 percent also reported having asthma .

WHAT IS ASTHMA ?
The National Heart , Lung and Blood Institute defines asthma as a chronic condition that affects airways in the lungs . The airways carry air in and out of the lungs , and when people have asthma , these airways can become inflamed and narrow , compromising a person ’ s ability to breathe .
WHO GETS ASTHMA ?
Many asthma patients are diagnosed during childhood . The ACAAI reports that most children with asthma exhibit symptoms prior to their fifth birthdays . Asthma symptoms also may appear in adults older than 20 , and such instances may be attributed to adult-onset asthma . Certain adults may be more likely to get adult-onset asthma than others . For example , WebMD reports that women who are experiencing hormonal changes , such as those who are pregnant or in menopause , may be more likely to get adult-onset asthma .
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA ?
The ACCAI notes that it can be hard to recognize symptoms of asthma in very young children . That ’ s because the bronchial tubes in infants , toddlers and preschool-aged youngsters are already small and narrow . Head colds , chest colds and other illnesses may further narrow these airways . So symptoms of asthma could be mistakenly associated with colds or other illnesses . A nagging cough that lingers for days or weeks or sudden , scary breathing emergencies are two symptoms of pediatric asthma . Parents also can be on the lookout for these symptoms :
• Coughing , especially at night
• A wheezing or whistling sound when breathing , especially when exhaling
• Trouble breathing or fast breathing that causes the skin around the ribs or neck to pull in tightly
• Frequent colds that settle in the chest Like pediatric asthma , adultonset asthma can be easy to miss . That ’ s because of natural changes in muscles and a stiffening of chest walls , both of which are associated with aging and therefore often attributed to age . The symptoms of adult-onset asthma are similar to those of pediatric asthma , and adults who suspect they might be experiencing asthma symptoms despite no history of the condition can ask doctors to conduct some specific tests designed to detect asthma . A lung function test and a methacholine challenge test are two ways doctors can detect adultonset asthma . Allergy season has arrived , and that could make some people more vulnerable to asthma . More information about asthma is available at www . accai . org .