Allergy Shots Asthma and Stress

Hi Bob,

Sorry to hear you're having such a rough time. Let me try to answer your questions.

Yes, food allergies can definitely trigger asthma symptoms. The most effective way to get control of your symptoms is to avoid your triggers. Do you know what they all are? Common outdoor airborne allergens are pollen from trees, grass, and weeds and mold spores found in fallen leaves and soil. Indoor airborne allergens include dust, animal dander, urine and saliva, insect droppings (especially cockroaches, but also Asian ladybugs), and mold spores. Additional irritants can include smoke from tobacco or wood fires, strong chemicals or odors, and latex, among other things. If you're regularly coming into contact with any of those things, then that could be at the root of your  ongoing symptoms too. Any efforts you can take to reduce your contact with those substances will help you gain control.

Stress can contribute to asthma. It alone is not enough to cause asthma, but it can certainly make things worse. So getting control of your stress is certainly in order. But I wouldn't recommend you move right away to meds for stress. I'd try something less invasive, such as meditation/relaxation techniques, yoga, or even listening to soothing music. Exercise is also a great stress buster, and it doesn't have to be formal exercise. Gardening, walking and dancing are great too. And getting support from family, friends, or even a support group can help as well.

Finally, yes, there are people with severe persistent asthma who have a difficult time finding the right medication solution. But the good news is that there are many treatment options to choose from for asthma. If you're not getting relief from what you're using now, then ask your doctor if you can try something different. You don't say what you're taking, but viable choices for treating asthma include inhaled steroids, leukotriene blockers, and combination inhalers. Another option is a new kind of drug called an immunomodulator. Xolair is the only choice in this category presently, and it's given by injection. Many severe asthmatics have been greatly helped by Xolair.

And one more option is immunotherapy, usually given in the form of a shot. This type of treatment gradually reduces your sensitivity to allergens over time. I'd also advise you to consult an allergist or pulmonologist (asthma specialists), if you haven't already, as they are the asthma treatment specialists.

By the way, if you were given antibiotics to treat asthma, I don't understand why. Asthma is not an infection. So it could be that the doctor who's treating you is NOT an asthma expert and you would benefit from seeing one.

To your improvement in health,

Kathi