Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the lungs and airways and causes severe difficulty breathing. Estimates provided by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America indicate that of the 20 million people in the United States who suffer from asthma, more than half have allergic or allergy asthma. Allergy asthma is triggered by the inhalation of allergens, such as pet dander, pollen or dust mites, causing asthma symptoms to develop. If left untreated, allergy asthma symptoms can cause severe medical complications.
Coughing
If you have allergy asthma and are exposed to allergen triggers, you can begin to cough. When allergens enter your airways, they can irritate the lining of your lungs. In response to this irritation, your body can signal you to cough in an effort to expel the allergens from your lungs.
Wheezing
Allergy asthma can cause you to wheeze if you are exposed to allergens that trigger this allergic response. Inhaled allergens can irritate and inflame your airway passages, causing these passages to narrow. Wheezing is a condition characterized by a whistling noise within the chest that is caused by air attempting to flow through your compressed airway.
Shortness of Breath
You can experience shortness of breath---a condition also referred to as dyspnea---due to allergen-triggered allergic asthma. Irritation caused by allergens can lead to inflammation and narrowing of your lungs and airway passages. If this occurs, you can develop shortness of breath or difficulty breathing as a symptom of allergy asthma.
Chest Tightness
If your lungs become inflamed due to allergen-stimulated allergic asthma, you can develop chest pain or tightness, according to the Mayo Clinic. Inflammation can cause swelling within the lungs, which can constrict the normal expansion and contraction of your lungs. If this occurs, your chest can hurt or feel tight when you attempt to inhale. Chest tightness or pain is often accompanied by additional symptoms of allergy asthma, including wheezing or shortness of breath.
