Intrinsic, or non-allergic, asthma describes asthma that occurs when a person is not allergic to anything. Less common that extrinsic, or allergic, asthma, intrinsic asthma is no less severe. Usually, intrinsic asthma is diagnosed by excluding the possibility that the individual could possibly have extrinsic asthma.
How is that done?
Generally speaking, the doctor or specialist could observe the patient for common symptoms such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or any of the other “different ways that allergies present” as Dr. Carlos Camargo from the Emergency Medicine Department at Massachusetts General Hospital says. He tells ABC News that blood tests “can measure specific compounds in the blood that show the person has been exposed to this and developed a reaction to it, and can assist in describing whether or not the person has potential for allergies.”
As a result, the onset and exacerbations of intrinsic asthma will differ from extrinsic asthma. An episode of this condition can be cause by a variety of factors including, but not limited to:
- Respiratory infection
- Chronic rhinitis
- Airborne irritants
- Tobacco smoke
- Exercise
- Emotional Stress
- Gastroesophageal Reflux
- Cold Air
- Occupational and Environmental irritants
- And Stress
As with extrinsic asthma, the key to managing intrinsic asthma is learning to recognize one’s triggers. Medication is also vital to controlling the episode and ensuring that breathing stabilizes and returns to normal. Since those with extrinsic asthma struggle with factors outside of themselves and not with immune system responses and triggers within, it may be advisable to avoid certain situations, activities and locations that cause them difficulty.
Regardless of the type of asthma a patient does have, he or she should work with their doctor to create a treatment plan that includes a combination of medications such as inhalers, steroids and so forth, stress reduction and management and even alternative treatments such as acupuncture, meditation, yoga or certain exercises which may be deemed helpful in improving respiratory function and aiding the asthmatic in living a healthy and qualitative life.
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