Are allergies and asthma treated differently?

Most treatments are designed to treat either asthma or hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis. But a few treatments help with both conditions. Some examples:

• Leukotriene modifier. This type of medicine can ease both allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms. Called a leukotriene modifier, this daily pill helps control immune system chemicals released during an allergic reaction. Montelukast (Singulair) is the leukotriene modifier that can treat both asthma and allergic rhinitis.

• Allergy shots, also called immunotherapy. Allergy shots can help treat asthma. They gradually reduce your immune system response to certain allergy triggers. This treatment involves getting regular shots. The shots have a tiny amount of the allergens that trigger your symptoms.

  Your immune system builds up a tolerance to the allergens over time, and your allergic reactions diminish. In turn, asthma symptoms also decrease.

• Anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) therapy. When you have an allergy, your immune system mistakenly identifies a specific substance as something harmful. Then your body releases antibodies, called IgE, against the culprit allergen.

  The next time you come across that allergen, the IgE antibodies sense it. They signal your immune system to release histamine and other chemicals into your bloodstream.

  A type of medicine called a biologic can help. It affects the action of IgE in the body and helps prevent the allergic reaction that triggers asthma symptoms. Omalizumab (Xolair) is a biologic used to treat allergic asthma. This treatment is used for more severe allergic asthma, but it also might help allergic rhinitis.

You may need other medicines to treat allergies or asthma, especially if your symptoms become worse at times. But recognizing and avoiding the substances that trigger your symptoms is an important step you can take.