Lifestyle.: Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing, but based on the symptoms, triggers and age group, asthma is classified into different types. Broadly, asthma can be classified as allergic and non-allergic, where both conditions have different characteristics such as triggers, duration of asthma attacks and severity. Let us understand both the conditions in detail.
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Allergic asthma vs non-allergic asthma: In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Mahavir Modi, Consultant Pulmonologist at Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune and Director of Modi Clinic in Pune, shared, “Allergic asthma is one of the most common asthma phenotypes. Symptoms of allergic asthma can appear at any age, but generally allergic asthma patients are younger than non-allergic asthma patients. Studies have shown that allergic asthma is more common in men than women. Statistics show that women are significantly more likely to suffer from non-allergic asthma than allergic asthma.
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According to the literature, the gender ratio is 0.8 men to 1.2 women.” Triggers: Dr Mahavir Modi explained, “Allergic asthma is caused by sensitivity to environmental allergens such as dust mites, pollen, pet dander, mold, etc. If an allergic person comes in contact with these allergens, their immune system gets activated due to the allergen triggers, leading to inflammation and constriction of the airways. Also, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction has been reported to be more common in allergic asthma patients than in non-allergic asthma.” He elaborates, “On the other hand, non-allergic asthma is triggered by many factors other than the allergens listed above. These can include viral infections, changes in weather, stress levels, and even certain medications and foods. Similarly, there are seasonal attacks, such as specific months during which allergic and non-allergic asthma patients generally see an increase in asthma. For example, non-allergic asthma patients see an increase in asthma during the winter season and less in the summer season.” Symptoms: Talking about the signs, Dr. Mahavir Modi said, “The symptoms of allergic asthma are similar to non-allergic asthma, such as cough, chest tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath which may worsen with physical activity or exposure to allergens.” Age group: According to Dr. Mahavir Modi, allergic asthma patients usually get asthma attacks in the early/younger stage of life.
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Also, studies show that family history of asthma is more common in allergic asthma vs non-allergic asthma. IgE levels: Dr Mahaveer Modi explained, “Immunoglobulin E (IgE) – the antibodies produced by the body in response to any allergen trigger, is associated with the severity of the allergic disease. Patients with allergic asthma usually have higher levels of total IgE in their blood than patients with non-allergic asthma. However, based on the symptoms and severity, specific blood tests such as IgE levels, allergy panel tests will be recommended by the treating doctor.” He concluded, “It is important to understand the different types of asthma for effective management and treatment. If one experiences symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness for a long time, it is advisable to consult a doctor, to ensure early identification and correct treatment. By recognizing specific triggers and symptoms, people suffering from allergic asthma can mutually coordinate with their healthcare providers to develop personalized treatment plans that help them manage their condition and improve their quality of life.
