Introduction:
Hay fever and asthma are some of the most chronic diseases in the world. Asthma is a condition in which the airways become narrow and swell and can produce extra mucus. This makes breathing difficult and triggers coughing, and wheezing when the patient breathes out, and the patient also experiences shortness of breath. Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, causes cold-like symptoms. The symptoms may include a runny nose, itchy eyes, congestion, sneezing, and sinus pressure. But the cold is caused by the virus. Hay fever is induced by an allergic response to a harmless substance which may be from outdoors or indoors, that the body identifies as harmful and thus known as an allergen. Allergies occur when the affected person's body misidentifies a harmless substance as dangerous. Such a substance is called an allergen. Then, the immune system responds to the alarm and starts producing antibodies against the allergen. Respiratory allergies affect the respiratory system.
Allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma are the two types of respiratory allergies. Allergic asthma, also called hay fever, induces symptoms like nasal congestion and itchy, watery eyes, while allergic asthma causes airway constriction. For some patients, an allergic reaction can cause airway problems along with other symptoms like a runny nose and itchy and watery eyes. In such cases, the condition can be called hay fever-related asthma. The connection between allergic rhinitis or hay fever and asthma has been the topic of several epidemiological investigations that have established an essential overlapping between both diseases. Hay fever induces asthmatic symptoms that are harder to control.
What Is Hay Fever-Related Asthma?
An allergic response happens when immune system proteins like antibodies mistakenly identify a generally harmless substance, such as tree pollen, as an invader. In a shot to protect the body from the invader, antibodies bind to the allergen. The chemicals produced by the immune system lead to allergic signs and symptoms, like nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, or skin reactions. This same reaction also involves the lungs and airways in a few people, leading to asthma symptoms. The same substances that trigger hay fever or allergic rhinitis symptoms, for example, pollen, dust mites, and pet dander, can also cause asthma signs and symptoms. Some people may get affected by skin or food allergies, which can show asthma symptoms. This condition is known as allergic asthma or allergy-induced asthma. A family history of allergies can be a major risk factor for allergic asthma. Suffering from hay fever or other allergies also increases the risk of getting asthma. Although hay fever-related asthma is common everywhere, there are also other types of asthma with various kinds of triggers. In some people, asthma can be triggered or initiated by exercise, infections, cold air, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or stress. Several people can be seen with more than one kind of asthma trigger.
What Is Hay Fever?
Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is defined as a typical condition with symptoms similar to those of a cold. These symptoms may include sneezing, congestion, runny nose, and sinus pressure. Despite its name, hay fever does not mean that there is an allergy to hay and a fever occurs. Hay is barely ever an allergen, and fever is not a symptom. Allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever, causes sneezing, nasal congestion, watery eyes, and itching of the nose, eyes, and the roof of the mouth. Symptoms are usually generated by allergic sensitivity to pollens from trees, grasses, weeds, or airborne mold spores. Asthma and allergic rhinitis are related to each other. People with allergic rhinitis have a more increased chance of proceeding on to developing asthma than people who do not have allergic rhinitis. Allergic reactions are induced by the immune system acknowledging a particular substance as being harmful to the body, usually called an allergen, even when the substance itself is generally harmless. The immune system responds to the allergen when they are breathed in. It is suspected that repeated exposure to a certain substance can increase the probability of a respiratory allergy and allergic rhinitis developing. However, the prevalent causes of allergies are not completely understood.
What Is Asthma?
Asthma is stated as a chronic lung disease involving people of every age. It is induced by inflammation and muscle tightening in the airways, making breathing more difficult. Symptoms may comprise shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness. These symptoms can be mild or severe depending upon the situation or the allergens and can change over time. Asthma is a significant non-communicable disease (NCD) concerning both children and adults and is the most commonly seen chronic disease among children. Most asthma-related fatalities occur in low and lower-middle-income or developing countries, where diagnosis and providing proper treatment are a challenge. People with under-treated asthma can feel tired during the day, suffer sleep disturbance, and have poor concentration.
When symptoms are severe, people with asthma may need emergency health care and be kept under observation in the hospital for treatment and monitoring. In the most severe cases, asthma can be fatal. Some people will show worse symptoms when they have a cold or during changes in the weather. Other triggers may include dust, smoke, fumes, grass and tree pollen, animal fur and feathers, strong soaps, and perfumes. Asthma is more likely if other family members also have asthma, significantly a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, which means it can be genetically transmitted. Asthma is more likely to happen in people with other allergic conditions, such as eczema, allergic rhinitis, or hay fever. Events seen in early life affect the developing lungs and can increase the risk of asthma. Such events contain:
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Lower birth weight.
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Premature births.
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Exposure to sources of air pollution such as tobacco smoke and others.
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Viral infections of the respiratory systems.
What Are the Various Ways of Treatment for Hay Fever-Related Asthma?
Most treatments are developed to treat either asthma or allergic rhinitis. But a few treatments can help with both conditions. Some examples are mentioned below:
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A Leukotriene Modifier: Such medication can relieve allergic rhinitis or hay fever and asthma symptoms or hay fever-related asthma. A leukotriene modifier, this pill that has to be taken regularly helps control immune system chemicals released during an allergic reaction. Montelukast is a leukotriene modifier that may treat both asthma and allergic rhinitis, hay fever, and hay fever-related asthma.
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Allergy Shots or Immunotherapy: Allergy shots have the potential to help treat asthma by slowly reducing the immune system's response to particular allergy triggers. Immunotherapy concerns regular injections of a small amount of the allergens that activate the symptoms. The immune system creates a tolerance to the allergens over time, and the allergic reactions subside. In turn, asthma symptoms are reduced as well. This treatment typically requires regular injections over a period of time.
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An Anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) Therapy: When a person has an allergy, the immune system wrongly identifies a specific substance as harmful and releases antibodies, known as IgE, against the invading allergen. When the person encounters that allergen, it goes into the bloodstream. The medication known as Omalizumab interferes with IgE in the body and aids or prevents the allergic reaction that triggers asthma symptoms. This treatment is used for more intense allergic asthma but might also help with allergic rhinitis or hay fever.
Conclusion:
Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is a medical condition caused by an allergy to substances breathed in the air. Most people with allergic rhinitis or hay fever and hay fever-related asthma are allergic to house dust mites, pollen, pets, molds, or a combination of these. The allergic reaction irritates the inner side of the nose, swells, and is abnormally inflamed. It also affects the back of the mouth and the throat. A person with hay fever may have nasal congestion and may experience itching or soreness in the nose, throat, and eyes. Hay fever-related asthma shows typical symptoms like wheezing, difficulty breathing, etc., disturbing sleep, and causes problems with daily activities.
