Allergy advice more popular than ever

More people are contacting Asthma UK seeking information about allergies than ever before, say nurse specialists on the Asthma UK Adviceline.

Allergies are a serious issue for people with allergic asthma as they can trigger an asthma attack any time. For this group of people, one important step in helping to control symptoms and avoid an attack is to identify their allergic triggers.

‘Many people with allergic asthma tell us that dust is a trigger, and for others pollen can trigger an attack, which is particularly relevant at this time of year,’ said asthma nurse specialist Rebecca Elder, who works on the Asthma UK Adviceline helping people to identify and reduce their exposure to asthma triggers.

‘However, there are also many non-seasonal allergies that can affect people with asthma including house dust mites (pictured), domestic pets and certain foods such as red wine,' she explained.

Allergies in the UK have risen sharply over the last 20 years, with one in three people now being diagnosed with allergy at some point in their lives.

Last year, Asthma UK supported the opening of a world leading research centre into what causes allergies and asthma. The MRC - Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, at King's College London, and Imperial College, aims to develop new approaches into prevention and underlying causes of asthma and allergy in order to develop new treatments.

‘The aim of the Centre is to build a world class research resource for asthma and allergy that will deepen our understanding of the allergic mechanisms of asthma and inform the priority areas of research to make a real difference to the lives of the 5.2 million people with asthma in the UK,' said Professor Tak Lee, the director of the Centre. ‘Combining the strengths of the teams from King's and Imperial, and fostering a multidisciplinary approach to research will aid progress in preventing and controlling asthma and allergy.’

For advice and information on allergies and how they can affect asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline on 08457 01 02 03, or use our online enquiry form.