Understanding allergic asthma is an important part of your treatment. Below are some helpful answers to common questions about allergic asthma.

Q: What is allergic asthma?
A: Allergic asthma is the most common type of asthma and is caused by certain allergens like dust, pets, and mold.

Q: How common is it?
A: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (AAAAI) estimates that approximately 60% of people in the United States with asthma have allergic asthma.

Q: What are the triggers?
A: You are probably aware of many things that can trigger your allergic asthma attacks and symptoms. Mold, dust mites, cockroaches, and pet dander are common examples of year-round allergens. Detailed descriptions of each are listed below:

Dust mites
Dust mites are spider-like creatures too small to be seen with the naked eye. Every home has dust mites. They feed on skin flakes and are found in mattresses, pillows, carpets, upholstered furniture, bedcovers, clothes, stuffed animals, fabric, etc. Both the body parts and feces of dust mites can trigger asthma in people who have an allergic reaction to dust mites.

Mold
Mold can grow on nearly anything where moisture is found. Outdoors, many molds live in soil, or on leaves, wood, and other plant debris. Indoors, they can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and food. Molds produce tiny spores, which are like seeds, to reproduce. And these spores can easily get into the air.

Anytime there is extra moisture indoors (through a damp basement, leaky faucet, wet shower stall, etc), it is likely that mold will grow, especially if no one in the house notices the extra moisture.

Cockroaches
Cockroach feces and saliva are both allergens and can trigger asthma symptoms in some people with allergic asthma. Since cockroaches may be common in densely populated areas, their allergens can affect large numbers of people with asthma.

Pet dander
Allergic asthma can be triggered by year-round allergens in the air such as pet dander (skin flakes) or pet hair. But you don't have to have pets in your house or visit places where animals are kept in order to be exposed to their allergens. In fact, animal allergens are often found in places where no animals are housed. That's because people who own or have been around animals can carry the allergens to other places without knowing it.
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Q: How can I tell if I have allergic asthma?
A: Only a doctor can tell you if you have allergic asthma. He or she will typically use a skin or blood test to see if your asthma is caused by year-round allergens in the air.
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Q: What is IgE?
A: IgE is short for immunoglobulin E (pronounced im'u-no-glob'u-lin E). This substance, which occurs naturally in your body in small amounts, plays a central role in your allergic asthma.
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Q: How can I tell if IgE may be contributing to my allergic asthma?
A: If you have allergic asthma, when you are exposed to a certain allergic trigger, your body makes IgE specific for that allergen. When you come in contact with that allergen, a series of chemical reactions occur known as the allergic inflammatory response process in allergic asthma. Two things can happen:

• Constriction of the airways—the muscles that surround the airways in your lungs begin to tighten
• Inflammation of the airways—your airways become irritated and swell up

Together, constriction and inflammation of the airways make it harder for you to breathe. This can lead to an asthma attack.

Do you know the level of IgE in your body? You should. Ask your doctor for an IgE test today.
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Q: Are there any tips for living with allergic asthma?
A: To help avoid the most common allergens that can trigger your symptoms, follow these simple tips:

Cockroaches

• Limit where you eat to avoid spreading food and crumbs around the house. And always keep food out of bedrooms
• Never leave food out—keep all food and garbage in closed containers
• Wash the kitchen floor and countertops at least once a week
• Repair leaky faucets and drain pipes, which can attract cockroaches
• Close up all openings around the house that might let cockroaches in
• Reduce the number of cockroaches by using environmentally safe pesticides and bait stations

Dust mites

• Use dust-proof or allergen-resistant covers for your mattress and pillows (available from mail-order specialty supply companies, as well as some bedding and department stores)
• Wash all bedding and blankets once a week in hot water (at least 130 to 140°F) to kill dust mites
• Replace wool or feathered bedding with synthetic materials. And make sure all stuffed animals are washable
• If possible, replace wall-to-wall carpets in bedrooms with bare floors (linoleum, tile, or wood)
• Use a damp mop or rag to remove dust from surfaces. Never use a dry cloth, which just stirs up mite allergens
• Use a vacuum cleaner with either a double-layered micro filter bag or a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to trap allergens that can pass through a vacuum

Mold spores

• Use a dehumidifier or air conditioner to maintain relative humidity below 50% and keep temperatures cool
• Vent clothes dryers and bathrooms to the outside to avoid extra moisture in your home
• Check faucets, pipes, and ductwork for leaks
• After you turn on air conditioners in your home or car, leave the room or drive with the windows open for a few minutes to get rid of mold spores
• Remove dead plants, leaves, etc from the yard, roof, and gutters
• Avoid raking leaves, mowing lawns, and working with peat, mulch, hay, or dead wood. If you must do yard work, wear a mask and try not to work on hot, humid days

Pet dander

• If possible, remove all pets from your home
• If you can't remove your pets, keep them confined to areas without carpets or upholstered furniture and out of bedrooms
• When near any rodents (eg, mice, hamsters, Guinea pigs, squirrels, etc), wear a dust mask and gloves
• Wash your hands and clean your clothes after playing with your pet—this will remove pet allergens
• When possible, ask someone else to clean soiled litter cages
• Dust regularly with a damp cloth