While common sense may tell you that allergens can worsen symptoms in individuals who suffer from respiratory issues, doctors and scientists have only recently begun to conduct formal research on the effects that seasonal allergies have on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
In a recent study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, researchers from Johns Hopkins University reported on the link they discovered between these two afflictions. According to dailyRx, a leading provider of health news and medical information, they studied 1,381 individuals with COPD and found that those who had been diagnosed with allergies were more likely to exhibit symptoms of wheezing, chronic coughing and a buildup of phlegm. These individuals also had higher odds of having to see a doctor for reasons related to their COPD.
"Our findings in two independent populations that allergic disease is associated with greater severity of COPD suggest that treatment of active allergic disease or avoidance of allergy triggers may help improve respiratory symptoms in these patients, although causality could not be determined in our cross-sectional study," said Dr. Nadia Hansel, who works for the Johns Hopkins University Asthma & Allergy Center and helped conduct the research.
There are simple actions you can take in your everyday life to reduce the presence of certain triggers that may exacerbate your COPD symptoms. You may want to consider investing in a whole house air purifier for your home and a car cabin air filter for your vehicle to help keep pollen out of your lungs during this particularly severe allergy season.
