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| Home > Treatment Options > Other Asthma Therapy Options |
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Since many people with asthma have allergies that trigger their asthma symptoms, your healthcare professional may decide that allergy testing and allergy shots may help you manage your asthma.
Allergy testing
Allergy testing involves a series of small, shallow injections into your skin. The injections contain extracts of substances—such as tree and grass pollens, house dust mites, and animal dander—that often cause allergic reactions. Your healthcare professional will then look at any skin "wheals," or bumps, that particular substances cause. The larger the wheal, the more severe your reaction to that substance may be.
Allergy shots
If allergies play a major role in your asthma, your healthcare professional may recommend allergy shots. These are shots of substances to which you are allergic, based on your allergy testing results. You will get these shots regularly, and they will gradually increase in strength. As the dose increases, your body should become more used to the allergens, which helps to reduce symptoms when you are exposed to them.
Important vaccines
If you have asthma and get influenza (also called the flu), you're more prone to complications, such as worsening asthma or pneumonia. (Influenza is a respiratory illness, not to be confused with stomach and intestinal viruses that may be called "stomach flu.")
To avoid this risk, especially if you have persistent asthma, your healthcare professional may recommend an annual flu shot. The shot is given annually because the virus that causes influenza changes from year to year. The vaccine will protect you from most strains of the flu. If you do get the flu anyway, chances are you'll get a less severe case of it.
Nonprescription inhalers
If you needed a refill of your rescue inhaler in a pinch, you may have bought a nonprescription inhaler. Be aware that these inhalers have ingredients with the potential for more side effects than prescription inhalers. It's a better idea to keep a spare prescribed inhaler in a convenient location at all times.
Alternative treatments
If you're like many other people with asthma, you may have wondered about, and perhaps tried, alternative treatments for your asthma. These alternatives could be herbs or dietary supplements.
There's no scientific proof that any of these treatments improve asthma symptoms or treat the underlying inflammation of the disease. If you do decide to try them, be sure to tell your healthcare professional. Some herbal supplements can interact with medications, and others may be similar to substances to which you are allergic.
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