Hay Fever And Your Lungs

One of the concerns about untreated hay fever or ineffective hay fever treatment is that complications can arise. One such complication is asthma which is a serious disease that involves a constriction of the breathing airways, causing shortness of breath, wheezing and other frightening symptoms. If it is not properly controlled, asthma can be life-threatening.

Frequent lung exposure to an allergen such as pollen can yield a sustained inflammatory allergic response and is linked to asthma. It's an important link to be aware of and if you have been experiencing hay fever symptoms but haven't obtained treatment, it's vital that you do so to prevent complications to your lungs.

Asthma and Hay Fever

People who suffer from asthma tend to be more likely to suffer from hay fever. Ironically, hay fever sufferers are also at a greater risk with regards to developing asthma. Thus, the link between the two means that those who suffer from both need to be particularly careful in terms of monitoring their conditions and preventing exposure to the allergen.

Recent research has looked at trying to identify which hay fever sufferers are more susceptible to developing asthma. If these patients can be identified, then extra measures can then be taken to help prevent the development of asthma. Researchers did find a link between the level of bronchial activity tested and patient susceptibility to asthma but no definite form of testing has yet been approved to use for patients and the testing remains in the research stage.

Mouth Breathing

People who suffer from hay fever usually suffer from a blocked nose, which leads sufferers to breathe through their mouths quite frequently. For those who also suffer from asthma, studies have suggested that they are more likely to have an asthma attack during exercise when breathing through their mouth as opposed to their nose. This may be due to the fact that the nose tends to be better at making air moister and warmer before it reaches the lungs, which provides a protective mechanism. Also important is that a clear nose is more successful at removing toxins, viruses and bacteria as opposed to a nose that is congested.

Nasal Mucus and Your Lungs

Hay fever sufferers may experience post-nasal drip, which can prompt coughing and throat irritation. The immune response that occurs in a person who suffers from hay fever means that the mast cells release chemicals such as histamine, which are present in nasal mucus. These inflammatory chemicals can reach the lungs via post-nasal drip and it is thought that this can worsen asthma.

Prevention Is Key

It can never be stressed enough that preventing exposure to the allergen is crucial in helping to manage hay fever symptoms. This is, of course, true for those who suffer only from hay fever, but particularly so for those who have diseases such as asthma, which will affect the lungs. By improving your hay fever symptoms, you can improve asthma symptoms. This means adopting a prevention plan to avoid exposure to pollen during high count times such as early mornings and evenings. It also means that medication is important to reduce inflammation, keep your nose clear and help you to breathe through your nose rather than your mouth. It may seem overwhelming trying to manage two conditions or simply to manage your hay fever in hopes that you don't develop problems with your lungs, but the benefits to your health are well worth the effort.