Asthma Due to Animals

Posted by EightNine on Dec 23rd 2010

Take care if you have asthma due to animals

Many of us like to have pets and we feel as if they are our family members. They give us emotional bonding, care and love. We may love our pets very much but there are some people who suffer from asthma due to animals. Hence it becomes very important for all of us to be careful enough and treat our pets. Repeated exposure to pets may lead to asthma triggering affects. It can be from any pet like dogs, cats, rabbit or other pet dander. Mice and other fur animals are also seen to be cause of asthma reactions.

Pets from house as well as other outside animals may also cause pet dander.

Cause of common asthma due to animals

It is said that asthma due to animals is caused because of fur in them. These allergies are basically increased by following factors:

1)     Proteins secretion that is there in pets and secreted by oil glands. They shed as pet dander.

2)     Many times, animals lick themselves and the proteins get attached with their skin and fur. It further comes in your contact when you touch or kiss the animals.

3)     There is aerosolized urine in mice and many other rodents in animals in house are also responsible for same.

When any of these proteins or urine gets inside human body, it leads to allergic reaction as body is not able to recognize the foreign particles. Body starts to fight against these and it leads to some allergic reactions. As result of allergy, it leads to inflammation and swelling of body parts. Soon lung is also inflamed. This leads to obstruction in airways passage and you feel tough to breathe. This is the main cause of asthma due to animals.

Symptoms of asthma due to animals

There are some early breaks when you come in contact with asthmatic factors. Every person has some unique factors involved with them. Some of those factors include:

1)     Sneezing

2)     Wheezing

3)     Coughing

4)     Shortness of breath

5)     Difficulty in breathing

6)     Chest tightness

7)     Headache

8)     Sensitivity and itchy throat

9)     Troubled sleep

10) Tired and weakness

11) Blocked and stuffed nose

The severity of symptoms may vary from one person to other. But as soon as you see them, try to consult doctors.

Preventive measures for asthma due to animals

1)     You should try to avoid any contact with animals if you know they cause asthmatic symptoms.

2)     If you want to have pets then try to isolate their area of movement. Try to be away from animals and keep them away from people who suffer from asthma.

3)     Try to maintain neatness and cleanliness of animals. Make then bath daily.

4)     Clean the house well. You must clean carpets, linen, stuffed toys, furnishing upholstery as these factors lead to restrict allergen. Increased exposure leads to higher level of asthma symptoms.

5)     To get away from asthmatic symptoms, immunotherapy is must.

6)     Removing pet is a better option if you feel you suffer from asthmatic symptoms. Even after they are removed, their particles remain in house for several days of cleaning.

7)     There are hairless variety of dogs and cats. There are many other things than fur that keeps you suffers from asthma due to animals.

8)     Wash your hands and clothes, if you get in touch with any pet.

If you follow these preventive measures, you could lower down the risk of getting asthma symptoms. This is not complete cure as by any chance you may come in contact with pets and other rodents.

Treatment for asthma due to animals

Some people tend to get harsh reactions when they get asthma due to animals. To save from the symptoms, you need to get them well diagnosed and see a doctor. Doctor will help you out with some self care asthma plan. He prescribes certain medications that help in treatment for asthma against animal effects. There may be additional medications that you need to take. Immunotherapy is given if the symptoms are much. With regular medication, many changes can be brought to you. Apart from medications, you need to control the environment in, which you live. Medications depend on the severe symptoms you suffer from and the controlling power of your body.

Asthma due to animals can attack you any time, it is better to prevent such things happening in your life. Surely life is more important than having pets and if you think, you get much severe asthma attacks due to pets and other animals, it is better to avoid having pets at home.