Allergy and Asthma
Overview
What is Allergy and Asthma?
An allergy is when your body’s immune system overreacts to a substance that usually does not affect other people. Symptoms can include coughing and itching, and can be more severe such as hives and trouble breathing.
It is common for patients with allergies to also have atopic dermatitis (eczema) and/or asthma. This is known as the atopic triad. It is common for infants with eczema to have asthma and allergies as children, and even into adulthood. In a patient with allergies and asthma, allergies can worsen asthmatic symptoms.
Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs where inflammation narrows the airways causing chest tightness, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. An asthma attack is a sudden worsening of these symptoms, which makes it difficult to breath. Asthma attacks can be caused by allergens, exercise, tobacco smoke, or illness. Asthma can usually be controlled by avoiding triggers that can cause an attack and by taking your medication as prescribed.1
There are many different medications to manage allergies and asthma. Medications can be pills, inhaled, or injections and IV infusions for severe allergies and asthma.
How common is Allergy and Asthma?
- About 24 million people in the United States have asthmas, including 6 million children (National Institute of Health).2
- 1 in 11 children in the United States have asthma (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).3
- More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies every year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).4
Questions regarding your Allergy and Asthma therapy?
You can reach the Accredo Allergy and Asthma care team, anytime, day or night, seven days a week by phone or online.
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Note: Most messages received via the online contact form will be responded to within one business day of receipt, Monday - Friday (excluding holidays). For urgent matters, please call us for immediate support.
1
National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, Third Expert Panel on the Diagnosis and
Management of Asthma. “Section 2, Definition, Pathophysiology and Pathogenesis of Asthma, and
Natural History of Asthma.” Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and
Management of Asthma., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2007,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7223/#A59. Accessed 23 February 2018.
“Asthma | Asthma Symptoms | Asthma Attack | MedlinePlus.” MedlinePlus Trusted Health
Information for You, medlineplus.gov/asthma.html. Accessed 23 February 2018.
2 “Asthma.” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 13 Feb. 2018, www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/asthma. Accessed 23 February 2018.
3 “Asthma.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 Aug. 2012, www.cdc.gov/asthma/triggers.html. Accessed 23 February 2018.
4 “Gateway to Health Communication & Social Marketing Practice.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Sept. 2017, www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/toolstemplates/entertainmented/tips/Allergies.html. Accessed 23 February 2018.
Symptoms
What are the symptoms of Allergy and Asthma? 1
- Asthma:
- Wheezing
- Breadthlessness
- Chest tightness or pain
- Coughing, especially at night or early in the morning
- Allergy:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Itching
- Wheezing/breathlessness/swelling (severe allergy)
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- Dry skin leading to a rash
- Itchiness
- Scaly, red skin
How is it diagnosed? 2
- Physical exam: The healthcare provider will listen to your breathing and look for signs of allergies and asthma, including a runny nose and allergic skin conditions.
- Spirometry: a breathing test to determine how well your lungs are working. The test measures how much air you can breathe in and out.
1 “Asthma | Asthma Symptoms | Asthma Attack | MedlinePlus.” MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You, medlineplus.gov/asthma.html. Accessed 23 February 2018.
2 National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, Third Expert Panel on the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. “Section 2, Definition, Pathophysiology and Pathogenesis of Asthma, and Natural History of Asthma.” Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2007, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7223/#A59. Accessed 23 February 2018.
Medications
Allergy and Asthma
The following specialty medications are available at Accredo, a specialty pharmacy for Allergy and Asthma.Drug | Manufacturer |
---|---|
Genentech | |
GlaxoSmithKline | |
AstraZeneca | |
Sanofi |
Financing Your Care
Financial assistance may be available to help with your medication costs, including manufacturer and community programs. Accredo specialists are available to help find a program that may work for you.
Financial Guidance
Life-saving specialty medication can be expensive. Learn how the Accredo teams help individuals find ways to afford the medication they need to survive in this video.
Find Support
Allergy and Asthma Organizations
There are many organizations that support research and advocacy for Allergy and Asthma. See below for a few of those organizations.
Support organizations
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
- American Asthma Foundation
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
- Allergy & Asthma Network
Government Organizations
Meet the Team
Accredo’s Allergy and Asthma care team is dedicated to serving you and we understand the complexity of your condition. Our expert clinicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any questions.
Why We Do It
Accredo supports patients with chronic and complex conditions and helps them live their best life. Watch our video to learn why we do what we do for our patients.
24-hour Customer Service Center
Send a Message
Note: Most messages received via the online contact form will be responded to within one business day of receipt, Monday - Friday (excluding holidays). For urgent matters, please call us for immediate support.