Maryland's Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Spring 2014 - (Page 5)

ASK THE DOC A-Choo! MEET WITH DR. SINGLA Manav Singla, MD, answers your questions about allergies and asthma Q DOES HAVING ALLERGIES INCREASE YOUR RISK OF ASTHMA? HOW CAN YOU TELL WHETHER YOUR ASTHMA IS ALLERGY-RELATED? There is a very good chance that asthma and allergies are related. Let's look at some numbers: * About 9 percent of all Americans have asthma and 25 percent have allergies. * Among allergy sufferers, 20 to 30 percent also have asthma. * People with asthma are likely to have allergies, too-in fact, approximately 85 percent of kids and 60 percent of adults who have asthma also have allergies. Allergy symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion and itchy, watery eyes, along with a dry cough and chest tightness, may indicate that you have allergy-related asthma. Asthma can also be triggered by other things like cold weather, exercise, poor air quality or being sick with a com- To make an appointment with Manav Singla, MD, at Maryland Asthma, Allergy & Sinus Center at the Klein Ambulatory Care Center in Bel Air, call 410-638-5110. Manav Singla, MD COMMON ASTHMA TRIGGERS Everyone who has asthma has his or her own asthma triggers and, when confronted with one or more of them, an attack is hard to avoid. Take a look at some of the more common triggers. SMOKING If you have asthma, it's important to keep smokers away from areas you spend a lot of time in, like the home and car. EXERCISE Strenuous exercise can cause a narrowing of the airways in individuals with asthma. Warm up slowly before a rigorous workout. mon cold. You should consult with your physician if you have any of these symptoms. Q CAN ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA HAPPEN AT ANY AGE? WHAT ABOUT ALLERGY-RELATED ASTHMA? Allergies and asthma can happen at any age and both have been known to start as early as before age 1. Allergy-related asthma typically starts in the childhood to teenage years. People can develop allergy-related asthma in their 20s, but later than that is uncommon. Q IS ALLERGY-RELATED ASTHMA TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN NONALLERGIC ASTHMA? The symptoms of both are treated similarly, with daily controller medications and as-needed quick-relief inhalers such as albuterol. Treatment for allergic asthma can be taken one step further with immunotherapy, commonly known as "allergy shots." Immunotherapy shifts your immune system to tolerate the allergens. Therefore, your body no longer reacts to the allergens with the same intensity, resulting in better- FOOD Common foods associated with allergic symptoms include eggs, peanuts, shellﬁsh and cow's milk. AIR POLLUTION Pay attention to air quality forecasts, particularly in the warmer months, so that you can plan activities based on whether the pollution levels are high or low. PETS If you don't want to get rid of Fido, be sure to bathe pets every week and vacuum often. MOLD Mold thrives on humidity, so run your air conditioner or dehumidiﬁer to keep the humidity level low. HEARTBURN When stomach acids back up into the esophagus, they can irritate the airways and trigger an asthma attack. controlled allergies and asthma.  Over-the-counter remedies are available, too! Watch our video at uchs.org/mhm under "Be Well Videos." uchs.org | Spring 2014 5 http://www.uchs.org http://www.uchs.org/mhm

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Spring 2014

Maryland's Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Spring 2014
In This Issue
A Healthy Start
A-CHOO
Walk WIth Me
Serious Care For Kids
At A Glance
News And Events

Maryland's Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Spring 2014