Allergies and Asthma Similarities

Allergies are the most common cause of the inflammation which underlies most asthma particularly in younger sufferers.

Allergy rates are on the increase especially in Western countries (compared to people in less affluent rural parts of the world) and there is a growing body of evidence that strongly suggests that asthma is an environmentally induced disease.

This raises the challenging possibility that we may be able to prevent asthma by altering our environment.

Treating asthma by removing the allergic cause can be very successful when the cause is easy to remove, such as a dust or vapour inhaled only at work.

The same is technically true when the cause is a domestic pet such as a cat or dog, however the reluctance to part with a loved pet commonly prevents success.

An allergy to house dust mites is one of the commonest cause of asthma but getting rid of mites sufficiently to make a significant difference requires such a major and expensive change in lifestyle for the sufferer that it is rarely successful..

Research is currently being carried out to develop future treatments which may be able to modify or diminish the allergic process in the body and help all asthmatics.

At a Glance … Asthma and Allergies

•The cause of the inflammation which underlies most asthma in younger sufferers is one or more allergies.

•More people in western countries suffer from allergies, compared to people in less affluent rural parts of the world, and allergy rates are on the increase.

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