Asthma and Airway Centre

The Asthma Education Handbook

Allergies

An allergy is a harmful reaction to an allergen, or foreign object or substance causing injury to the body's tissue. The body's reaction to this kind of "trigger" or irritatant in the airways, causes asthma symptoms to occur. The muscles which circle around the airways tighten and the lining gets inflamed, secreting more mucus obstructing the flow of air.

By trying to identify and avoid certain triggers, you can help to keep your asthma under control. An allergy skin test is helpful to identify allergic triggers. When your asthma is under control with medication, you may be less susceptible to triggers.

• Allergic Triggers
  The sources and preventive measures to allergic triggers like grass, trees, pollen dust, etc.
• Non-Allergic Triggers
  The sources and preventive measures to non-allergic triggers like emotion, exercise, smoke, fumes, cold air, chest infections even certain medications.
• Allergic Rhinitis
  Information on allergic rhinitis, the allergy seasons across Canada and how to use nasal drops and nasal spray.