Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder that can be treated and controlled, but not cured. The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) notes that 1 in 15 Americans suffers from asthma and it is the third most common cause of hospitalization in children. Asthma occurs in children and adults and causes varying degrees of symptoms. Individuals may also be susceptible to different asthma triggers that can worsen symptoms. Environmental, household chemical and food allergies can also cause asthma symptoms. It is important to be aware of allergen triggers to help prevent or decrease asthma symptoms.
Wheezing
Chronic wheezing is a characteristic symptom of asthma that can be triggered or worsened by allergens. Wheezing causes an audible squeaking or whistling sound when breathing, which is often more noticeable when sleeping, under stress and after physical activity. It results from allergic irritation to the muscles and lining of the airways of the lungs causing them to constrict, swell and spasm.
Coughs
Excessive and chronic coughing is often the first symptom of asthma. Coughing occurs when the muscles around the airways within the lobes of the lungs tighten, twitch and spasm due to irritation of the immune system by allergens, as explained by the National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The allergic reaction may also cause lung tissue inflammation and fluid or mucus accumulation in the lungs making it difficult to breathe and causing chronic coughing, even when waking up. Cough symptoms in asthma are usually dry, hacking coughs or a bark-like cough that worsens when there is exposure to allergens such as pollen, dust, mold or animal fur and dander.
Chest Tightness
The sensation of chest is tightening or that there is a heavy object pressing down on the chest can be one of the most frightening symptoms of asthma. Allergies can trigger this symptom, leading to a panic, anxiety and an asthma attack. This occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens, causing the lungs to become inflamed and the smooth muscle walls of the airways to tighten or spasm. This makes it difficult to breathe and creates shortness of breath.
Fluid Accumulation
Irritation and inflammation of the lung tissue and lining of the airways can cause the mucous glands to overproduce fluid in the lungs. This fluid can fill some of the lungs bronchioles, making it difficult to inhale and exhale deeply. It also gives the sensation of "drowning on dry land" that some asthma sufferers experience. According to the NHLBI, allergies cause or worsen this by directly irritating the lungs and by causing symptoms such as a runny nose and sinus infections.
