Most of us are no strangers to allergies and asthma. In fact, more than 65 million Americans experience either allergy or asthma. Whether your asthma is triggered by either food or the environment, our bodies’ biological response can be uncomfortable or even life-threatening.
While there is no cure, greater awareness, and understanding of how allergies and asthma work has prompted encouraging developments for those combatting their conditions. Since 1984, the month of May has been designated as the National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.
The month of May lines up perfectly when most Americans suffer the most from seasonal allergies and holds time for educating families, friends, and the public.
Prevalence
Around 25 million Americans are currently living with asthma and over 20% of them are children. Asthma is most prevalent amongst Black, Latinx, and low-income individuals. Asthma can be onset by the environment, allergies, obesity, sickness, and several other factors.
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Higher rates of asthma are also tied to increased rates of hospitalizations and deaths for asthma-related incidents. Additionally, about 32 million Americans have a food allergy, and 24 million Americans have allergies related to the environment (i.e. hay fever, rhinitis, etc). While there is no cure, many Americans turn to inhalers to help with their asthma and antihistamines to help quell severe allergy symptoms.
Inhalers work by breathing medication into the mouth, down to the lungs, and relax the muscles that tighten around the airways. This allows users to breathe more easily and avoid asthma attacks.
Moreover, antihistamines work by blocking histamines in the body. Typically, the immune system releases histamines when it detects a ‘threat’. The build-up of histamines leads to swelling, itching, sneezing, and other symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Triggers & Challenges
The most popular triggers for allergies and asthma attacks are pollen, grass, animals, and foods.
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While the best remedy is to avoid these triggers, it is virtually impossible. Allergy sufferers typically have the most issues during spring, as most plants and flowers release pollen in the air.
Some ways to avoid triggers is to change clothing when coming back inside, washing off your body and hair, and making sure to vacuum any carpets.
Even when inside, allergens can get stuck in materials of clothes and bedding. For those allergic to pet hair, hypoallergenic dogs and cats are a safe option, along with regular vacuuming pet hair. These are especially important factors to consider when sharing a public space with others!
As the country transitions back into congregating in larger crowds, it’s important to be considerate of others during allergy season in workplaces, schools, and churches.
While you might not have an allergy, others around you may be sensitive to any pollen or pet hair on your clothes. Keeping a lint roller around is a simple solution to keep pet hair and other allergens away.
How to Take Action
For those who do not personally suffer from allergies, you can still be helpful to others who do. Use your social media to spread information about allergies! It’s much more complex than just staying away from food or taking an antihistamine pill everyday.
Share interesting articles or infographics to spread awareness. If you have a child in school, share resources with the teachers and other staff on how the school can be more inclusive and safe for those with allergies.
You can also consider donating to organizations like the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Finally, it’s important to empathize. Allergies can cause anything from slight discomfort to anaphylaxis. Understanding that allergy season can make day-to-day life challenging is an important step in empathizing.
If your loved one suffers from allergies, make sure their inhaler is full if they use one. While you will not be able to cure their asthma or allergies, your empathy can help normalize having allergies. Use the month of May as time to hold space for awareness and understanding.
Together, we can keep improving the quality of life for those suffering from allergies and asthma.
