Discussing How Asthma And Allergies Affect Your Relationship With Pets In Honor Of Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) reports that roughly 1 in 13 people in the U.S. have asthma. Additionally, Filtrete reports that about 30% of people in the U.S. are allergic to dogs and cats. Because so many Americans suffer from asthma or pet allergies, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has deemed the month of May as National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month!
This article will take an in-depth look into asthma, pet allergies, how these conditions affect your relationship with pets, and the month-long holiday that raises awareness about both asthma and allergies.
Using an inhaler to treat asthma
What Is Asthma?
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) defines asthma as a chronic long-term condition that affects the airways in the lungs. When a person has asthma, their airways can become inflamed and narrowed at times. This can make it more difficult for air to flow out of the airways when breathing.
Asthma affects people of all ages. It can be triggered by various things like cold air, exercise, viral infections, pollen, and pet dander. Being exposed to the aforementioned things can trigger an asthma attack. When this happens, a person’s breathing gets faster, they can’t catch their breath, and they become too breathless to speak, sleep, or eat.
How To Live With Asthma
Sadly, there is no cure for asthma. However, there are forms of treatment to help manage and lessen the effects of asthma. A person with asthma must pay close attention to their air flow. Monitoring air flow can help predict an asthma attack before it happens.
Additionally, a person with asthma should always be prepared for attacks and keep an inhaler on them. An inhaler is a hand-held portable device that delivers medication to the lungs. They help control asthma symptoms and open up the airways during an asthma attack. For more information about asthma inhalers, click here.
Allergic reactions to pets
What Are Pet Allergies?
Mayo Clinic defines pet allergies as an allergic reaction to proteins found in an animal’s skin, cells, urine, and saliva. In most cases, pet allergies are triggered when exposed to dead flakes of skin that pets shed called dander.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation Of America reports that 10 to 20% of the world’s population have cat and dog allergies. Common symptoms of pet allergies include sneezing, runny nose, wheezing, nasal congestion, watery/itchy eyes, hives, and skin rashes.
How To Live With Pet Allergies
Having pet allergies doesn’t mean you can’t have pets. However, it does mean you should take proactive steps towards reducing the severity of allergic reactions. This includes things like washing your pet regularly, vacuuming often, and investing in an air purifier. For more information about air purifiers and how to pick the right one for you, click here.
Additionally, you can also reduce allergic reactions by having your pets sleep separately from you. The average person spends one-third of their life sleeping. So, reducing exposure to your pets while sleeping will help you feel and sleep better. While it’s comforting to have your pets sleep in bed with you, it’s not worth experiencing severe allergic reactions every night.
A dog and owner hugging
The Aim Of The Holiday
The overall goal of National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month is to help educate people about asthma and allergies. Many people around the world suffer from asthma and/or allergies and don’t even know it. Understanding these conditions is the first step towards living with and improving them.
If you or someone you know suffers from asthma or allergies, we encourage you to learn more about these health conditions. This knowledge may prove to be more useful than you think. For more information about asthma, allergies, and this month-long awareness-based holiday, click here.
Observing The Holiday
The best way to get involved with National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month is to educate yourself and help educate others about asthma and allergies. Spread the word about this amazing holiday on social media. Be sure to share this article too! The more people that know about National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, the more that can get involved.
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