Introduction
Patients suffering from hay fever or asthma should know that there is a relationship between hay fever and asthma. Hay fever can induce asthma symptoms in some people, but not all cases of asthma are related to hay fever. Furthermore, hay fever can worsen asthma by triggering an immune response that releases histamine, causing allergic reactions that can affect the lungs and cause asthma symptoms. People with asthma should investigate if hay fever is the cause of the health problems and work with the healthcare provider to manage the symptoms, potentially by limiting exposure to allergens, medication, or allergy shots. This article will discuss in detail the link between these two diseases and provide insights on their symptoms and treatments.
What Is the Difference Between Asthma and Hay Fever?
Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is a medical condition that occurs due to immune response to specific particles in the air that is inhaled. Furthermore, allergic rhinitis is commonly referred to as hay fever when it coincides with the seasons when there is a high concentration of airborne pollen. It is an allergic reaction to airborne particles that are inhaled through the nose. These particles, commonly referred to as triggers, may include pollen, grasses, dust mites, mold, or animal dander. Inhaling a trigger prompts the body to mount an immune response within the lining of the nose. As a result, the nasal lining becomes red, swollen, and hypersensitive, leading to the development of hay fever symptoms.
Asthma refers to a medical condition where an individual's airways experience inflammation, swelling, and narrowing, leading to the production of excess mucus. As a result, breathing becomes challenging. The type of asthma that is linked to hay fever is allergic asthma. Allergic asthma is a form of asthma characterized by the tightening of the airways in response to the inhalation of allergens. These allergens may include substances like pollen, dander, or mold spores that are present in the air. Such allergens are often referred to as triggers as they initiate an asthmatic response. It is worth noting that individuals with allergic asthma may have a different set of triggers, and some triggers that cause an allergic reaction in them might not affect other people.
Can a Person Get Asthma From Hay Fever?
The answer is yes! It is estimated that the majority of individuals diagnosed with hay fever also exhibit symptoms of asthma. It is noteworthy that allergens responsible for hay fever can also provoke asthma attacks in individuals with allergic asthma. Furthermore, many studies have also found a strong link between hay fever and asthma. In early studies, about 40 % of people with hay fever also had asthma, and up to 80 % of people with asthma had hay fever. However, newer studies with more detailed interviews have found that almost all people with allergic asthma also have hay fever, and about 78 % of people with non-allergic asthma have hay fever as well. These studies confirm that there is a strong association between hay fever (inflammation of the nose) and asthma, both in people who are allergic and those who are not allergic.
Can Hay Fever Worsen Asthma?
Yes, hay fever can worsen asthma control. People with asthma and hay fever (allergic rhinitis) have a higher frequency of hospital visits and emergency department admissions, as well as more absences from work or school than individuals with only asthma.
Some triggers that provoke asthma can also intensify allergic rhinitis, such as allergens, cold air, cigarette smoke, or irritating fumes. However, effective treatment for allergic rhinitis lowers the risk of severe asthma attacks and improve lung function.
Individuals with hay fever who are sensitive to grass pollens (like ryegrass) can experience asthma attacks during spring thunderstorms, mainly in October-November in areas with a high concentration of grass pollen. Thunderstorm-induced severe asthma attacks are more common in people with asthma and allergic rhinitis, especially when asthma is not adequately controlled, or regular asthma preventer medication is not being taken.
How Does Hay Fever Make Asthma Worse?
Asthma symptoms may worsen when individuals with this condition are exposed to allergens, such as dust mites, mold, pollen, or animal dander, which can trigger an allergic reaction. The immune system responds to the allergen by producing immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies that bind to the allergen and stimulate the release of protective substances, including histamine.
Histamine can cause allergic reactions affecting the eyes, nose, throat, skin, and lungs, leading to asthma symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, or difficulty breathing. As the body retains memories of this reaction, encountering the allergen again can provoke the same response, making it challenging to manage asthma in people with allergies.
Can Asthma Be Mistaken for Hay Fever?
Asthma and hay fever share some common symptoms. Individuals who have asthma may mistake their symptoms for hay fever without realizing it. The following are some typical symptoms of asthma:
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Tightness in the chest.
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Wheezing, which is a persistent, high-pitched noise when breathing from the chest.
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Coughing.
Similarly, individuals with allergic rhinitis may experience any of the following symptoms:
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Itching in the eyes or watery eyes.
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Feeling of itchiness in the nose or roof of the mouth (palate).
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Sneezing.
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Frequently needing to clear the throat.
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Breathing more through the mouth.
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Running nose.
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Frequent head cold.
The biggest complication of hay fever for asthma is that even when an individual's asthma is well-controlled, they may still experience difficulty breathing. And this happens when hay fever persists over a long period of time and is not effectively managed.
What Is the Treatment of Hay Fever Related Asthma?
Since hay fever can worsen asthmatic episodes, proper management of hay fever can potentially lower the chances of severe asthma exacerbation. It is highly important to identify and avoid allergens that can trigger asthma and hay fever symptoms. The exposure to allergens should be reduced to prevent hay fever. Effective treatment options for hay fever include preservative-free nasal sprays, antihistamines, and decongestants, either in the form of oral medications or preservative-free nasal sprays, corticosteroids, allergen-specific immunotherapy, or desensitization.
Immunotherapy is a treatment for allergic rhinitis caused by unavoidable allergens. It can be oral or injectable, but must be prescribed by an allergy specialist. Treatment typically lasts three to five years and can have side effects. It is not recommended for people with severe or poorly controlled asthma. Furthermore, the correct technique for using nasal sprays and irrigation should be learned and used. In case hay fever causes asthma to flare-up, individuals should carry their reliever with them at all times.
Conclusion
To conclude, to determine if allergies are affecting an individual's asthma, they should consult their healthcare provider, who may refer them to an allergist for testing. While allergies may not always be the cause of asthma symptoms, identifying potential allergens can help manage asthma. Reducing exposure to allergens can help control asthma, and if avoidance is not feasible, medication or allergy shots may be recommended by a doctor.
