How and Why Asthma and Allergies Occur

With allergy season upon us, we thought we’d expand on our previous 10 Asthma and Allergy Facts You Should Know post with a bit more background information about asthma and allergies. 

What exactly is asthma? According to the American Lung Association, Asthma is characterized by excessive sensitivity of the lungs to various stimuli. Triggers range from viral infections to allergies, irritating gases, or particles in the air.  Each person reacts differently to the factors that may trigger asthma, including:

• respiratory infections, colds

• allergic reactions to allergens such as pollen, mold, animal dander, feathers, dust, food, and cockroaches

• exposure to cold air or sudden temperature change

• cigarette smoke

• excitement/stress

• exercise

While there is a wealth of information indicating or suggesting an association between environmental exposures and asthma outcomes, not much is known about what brings upon the change to asthma as opposed to simply an irritation or allergy. 

What are allergies? Allergy symptoms occur when the immune system reacts to substances (allergens) that are generally harmless and in most people do not cause an immune response. For someone prone to allergies, their immune systems are super sensitive. Antibodies that build up in an allergy-prone person’s system produce histamines and other chemicals to try to counteract the allergens, causing the itchiness, watery eyes, and other irritated symptoms commonly associated with allergies. Thankfully, many indoor air pollutants can be eliminated safely with air purifiers and other indoor air quality solutions.

The mystery behind allergies and asthma is that they could come or go without a moment’s notice. Some people experience seasonal allergies every year of their lives. Others don’t have any allergy symptoms at all in childhood, only to develop them later as adults for seemingly no reason. Others have them as children and then appear to "outgrow" them. This is what makes studying them so frustrating and so fascinating. 

One reason for developing allergies after childhood can actually be one of the topics we’ve touched on here – Sick Building Syndrome. Being exposed to low to moderate levels of chemicals in "sick buildings" can cause a person to experience symptoms that they never had before, and can leave them very frustrated and confused if they haven’t made the connection between their illness and their workplace environment. Mold in the home or office is also a large contributor to seemingly sudden symptoms. Since it can lurk within walls and other non-obvious places, sufferers may go years without proper treatment or identifying the source of the problem.

Are you asthmatic or do you have allergy sufferers in your home or workplace? Try HomeAire’s selection of air purifiers and ventilation systems to bring a happy and healthy environment back to the places that you live and work.