Did you know that mold sensitivity has been associated with increased asthma severity and death?
About 25 million people in the U.S. have asthma today.
Roughy 60% of these people have allergic asthma.
With allergic asthma, the triggers are different.
The role of allergies in asthma is greater in children than in adults.
In the United States, by 2002, asthma ranked 8th in terms of most visits to the doctor.
The Immune System
Your immune system controls how your body defends itself.
A typical allergic response occurs when the immune system proteins mistakenly identify a harmless substance in the body.
Unfortunately, most treatments are designed to treat either asthma or allergies.
Few treatments help both conditions.
Signs And Symptoms
Symptoms differ from person to person depending on the type of fungi.
If you think you may have asthma, look out for these signs below:
- Coughing & sneezing
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Chest tightness
- Nasal discharge
Symptoms will typically occur within an hour or two of exposure.
For more information on asthma and mold, please read Allergens & Asthma Due To Fungi.
If fungi is a problem in your home, be sure to eliminate all sources of moisture.
- Avoid areas which may contain fungi
- Ensure the house is well ventilated
- Throw away old books or newspapers
- Clean out the garbage frequently
The most common signs and symptoms of a drug allergy would be hives, rash or fever. A drug allergy may cause serious reactions, including anaphylaxis, a serious condition which affects multiple body systems.
Anaphylaxis is the name of the potentially life-threatening reaction that can happen when you’re allergic to a particular food, stinging insect or even medication.
If you or someone you know shows any signs or symptoms of a life-threatening allergic reaction, it is important to administer epinephrine at the first sign of anaphylaxis. A delay in administering epinephrine could be life-threatening.
In this instance, self-care at home is not enough.
Common Drug allergy symptoms:
- Itching
- Fever
- Runny nose
- Shortness of breath
- Hives
Anaphylaxis symptoms include:
- Drop in blood pressure
- Nausea
- Rapid pulse
- Dizziness
- Seizure
Signs of a drug allergy will usually occur within an hour after taking the drug. There are other drug allergy reactions which can occur days, even weeks after use.
These conditions include:
- Inflammation of the kidneys
- Serum sickness
- Drug-induced anemia
Preventing Asthma At Home
Fungi and mold release tiny seeds called spores into the air, which can trigger asthma symptoms in some people.
Avoid areas likely to have mold. Inside homes, mold growth can be slowed by controlling humidity levels and ventilating showers and cooking areas.
If there is mold growth in your home, you should clean up the mold and fix the water problem.
Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products like soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.
Ginko
Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have been using the herb ginkgo to treat asthma for centuries.
Try taking 60 to 250 mg of standardized ginkgo extract once a day. One recent study suggests that this herb interferes with a protein in the blood that contributes to airway spasms.
Magnesium
Magnesium may make you feel better. Much research suggests that magnesium relaxes the smooth muscles of the upper respiratory tract.
The recommended dose is 600 mg a day.
Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, and mackerel, work like a class of asthma drugs called leukotriene inhibitors.
These drugs stop the actions of body compounds that cause inflammation in the airways. Take six 1,000 mg capsules a day in divided doses.
Bioflavonoids
Bioflavonoids, the compounds that give fruits and vegetables their technicolor hues, have powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic properties.
One of the best-known bioflavonoids, quercetin, inhibits the release of histamine.
Take 500 mg of quercetin three times a day, 20 minutes before meals.
Please read Combat Fungi Related Asthma Now for more information on combating asthma.
