Parkridge Health System - April 26, 2019

Well, spring has certainly sprung. And it has sprung right into full-blown allergy season.

The watery eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, oh my! You might be asking yourself, will the suffering ever end?

We discussed allergies with Minerva Covarrubias, MD, pulmonologist with Parkridge Medical Group Specialty, who offered insight into the nature of allergies and asthma and how you can reduce seasonal symptoms.

Q: What are the main differences between allergies and asthma?

A: When most people think about allergies, they think about itchy, watery eyes, runny or stuffy nose, and sinus pressure—the upper respiratory symptoms.

Asthma is an allergic illness, too, except that it affects the lower respiratory tract, specifically the bronchial tubes or airways.

As a pulmonologist, I think of allergies and asthma as representing a spectrum of the same disease where the airway is sensitive to inhaled particles in the air. I remind patients that the airway begins with the nose!

Q: Can either asthma or allergies be cured?

A: Asthma and allergies can be managed to control symptoms and prevent more serious complications later in life but can’t be cured.

It’s similar to a food allergy. Once you have developed an immune response to an irritant or trigger, you can’t go back and undo that immune response. However, we are able to change or reduce how the body responds to that irritant with therapy.

Q: Can either of these conditions be prevented?

A: Yes and no. We know that certain exposures, especially early on in life, can predispose someone to asthma.

For example, children who live with smokers and who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at higher risk of developing asthma later on in life. With that said, asthma can also run in families, and there's not much you can do about your genetic makeup.

Q: Are most cases of asthma related to allergies? How do allergies exacerbate the condition?

A: Asthma is an allergic illness and everyone will have one or more triggers (such as pollen, dust, animal dander/hair, grasses, smoke, etc.) that cause inflammation and increased mucus production in the airways that lead to symptoms of cough, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Q: How can your practice assist people suffering from allergies and asthma?

A: I find the most helpful thing I can do for a patient is to confirm and recognize the diagnosis.

To do so really requires taking a careful history and talking with the patients. I see many patients who have other diagnoses that produce the same symptoms as asthma, such as COPD, chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis.

Generally speaking, the initial treatments are very similar, but in patients with severe asthma, there are additional therapeutic options such as immunotherapy that are available to asthmatics and not the other types of illnesses mentioned previously. Therefore, it is really important to make sure that patients presenting with symptoms of shortness of breath, wheezing and cough are diagnosed correctly since it affects management of their illness.

Dr. Covarrubias partners with patients to improve their pulmonary health. To schedule an appointment or consult, call (423) 698-2435.