May is asthma, allergy awareness month Published May 28, 2007 341st Medical Group MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness month. As the days get warmer and longer, people are spending more time outdoors. Asthma and seasonal allergy sufferers may notice more symptoms with the arrival of the spring and summer months. More than 50 million Americans have nasal allergies. A person with allergies is sensitive to certain substances that are normally harmless to a person without allergies. These substances, called allergens, include weeds, trees, grasses, mold spores, animal dander, dust mites and cockroaches. Allergens signal the body to respond with symptoms such as stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes and postnasal drip. Although nothing can cure allergies, symptoms can be managed by limiting exposure to allergens and treating the symptoms with medicine. Several different types of prescription and over-the-counter medicines are available. They work in different ways to prevent or relieve allergy symptoms. Be sure to talk to a doctor or pharmacist about what medicines might be best for you. Scientists have discovered asthma is also an allergic condition, and it has a lot in common with allergies. Both can be triggered by many of the same allergens, and many people with asthma also have seasonal allergies. But having allergies doesn't necessarily mean a person has or will get asthma. More than 17 million Americans have asthma, and although it cannot be cured, symptoms can be controlled. With asthma, the air passages in the lungs are very sensitive and can be inflamed and swollen. Certain triggers can cause the muscles of the air passages to narrow and produce extra mucus, making it harder to breathe. An asthma attack can be triggered by many things, including cigarette smoke, perfume, air pollution, exercise, very cold air and even stress. The most common symptoms of an asthma attack are chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing. It is important not to self treat asthma with over-the-counter medications. Over-the-counter remedies are ineffective in preventing episodes of asthma and have potentially dangerous side effects. A health care provider can develop a good treatment plan that will allow a person to stay active. Without effective treatment, asthma tends to get worse and can be fatal if not treated properly. Anyone experiencing symptoms of allergies or asthma should make it a point to speak to a health care provider soon. More information can be found at the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America Web site at www.aafa.org.