Theimmune systemplays a central role in the onset and severity ofasthma.
Asthma was once thought to solely be due to changes in one’s acquired (adaptive) immune response.
The Impact of Inflammation
The immune system coordinates your body’s defenses to infection and disease.
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These includemonocytesthat instigate the generalized frontline assault (a.k.a.
innate immunity) andB cells and T cellsthat are tailor-made to recognize and target the specific pathogen (a.k.a.
Inflammation is a beneficial response that speeds the resolution of illness and starts the healing process.
Infections' Impact on Asthma
Asthma can be triggered by a variety of things.
Respiratory viruses are the predominant infectious cause of asthma attacks.
Certain medications, likecorticosteroids, can also compromise airway tissues and increase the risk of infection.
People with asthma are also more likely to experience the reactivation of previous infections.
Those affected will have a form of the disease calledallergic (or atopic) asthma.
There are both atopic and non-atopic forms of asthma.
By definition, atopic diseases are those characterized by an exaggerated immune response to allergens.
The onset of asthma symptoms in people with allergies mostly starts in the epithelial cells that line the airways.
The Allergic Cascade
The allergic cascade generally occurs in the following steps.
Some scientists believe that autoantibodies involved inautoimmune diseasesplay a central role.
There other similarities that suggest a relationship between asthma and autoimmunity.
Stress and extreme temperatures are also known to influence many autoimmune diseases, including lupus,gout, andpsoriasis.
Asthma is believed to be a part of the progression of diseases referred to as the atopic march.
This, in turn, can instigate additional changes that give rise to asthma and hay fever.
It a hypothesis referred to as the “hygiene theory.”
By contrast, exposing a baby to peanuts before 6 months decreases the risk.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
One of the primary tools used to control an overactive immune response areasthma medications.
Some non-drug strategies can be helpful complements as well.
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