Asthma or Allergies? A Visual Guide to Help Explain the Differences

Are you experiencing asthma or allergies?

This is a common question providers and other medical staff are asked over and over during peak allergy season. Not knowing if your symptoms are related to asthma or allergies can cause you to misdiagnose your symptoms and become frustrated, because you aren’t finding relief.

There are definitely some similarities between the two, but there are also many differences.

Allergy Information

• An allergy is an inflammatory reaction or response to a specific substance
• Allergy attacks can lead to asthma attacks
• Allergic reactions can involve nasal membranes, the eyes, skin, tongue, and breathing passages, in severe reactions
• Allergy symptoms may be a sign of irritants in the air that can provoke asthma symptoms

Asthma Information

• Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung (lower respiratory) disease, that can cause difficulty when breathing
• About half of asthmas cases are closely related to allergies. This is often referred to as “extrinsic” or “allergic” asthma
• Asthma is specifically in the lungs (lower respiratory)
• People with asthma usually have allergies – hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and sinusitis are common in asthma patients

Common Allergy Types

Below are nine different allergy types.

Drug Allergy

Common symptoms are hives, rash and fever.

Food Allergies

Digestive problems, hives, or swollen airways, are symptoms of a reaction. Severe reactions can be life-threatening.

Contact Dermatitis

A red rash, wherever the skin came into contact with the irritant, is the main symptom of contact dermatitis.

Latex Allergy

Minor skin irritation to life-threatening shock are common symptoms of latex allergy.

Allergic Asthma

Wheezing and difficulty breathing are asthma symptoms of an allergy that affects the lungs

Seasonal Allergies

Sneezing, runny nose, and watery, red, and itchy eyes are symptoms of seasonal allergies.

Animal Allergy

Common symptoms of an animal allergy are sneezing and runny nose. People with asthma may also experience wheezing and difficulty breathing.

Anaphylaxis

Skin rash, nausea, vomiting, shock, and difficulty breathing are symptoms of anaphylaxis.

Allergy to Mold

Itchy, watery eyes, cough, and hives are symptoms of an allergy to mold. People with asthma may experience wheezing and difficulty breathing.