Does Eating Eggs Trigger Asthma?

Eggs aren't usually associated with asthma, yet for some people, eating a little bit of egg can bring about an onslaught of asthmatic symptoms. Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies, and it is unfortunate for asthma patients that it is also a food that's hard to avoid. As eating eggs can trigger symptoms in some asthma patients, it is important to have a full understanding of the relationship between egg and asthma.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disease with many treatments, but no cure. During an asthma attack, a person's airways become swollen causing the bronchial tubes in the lungs to narrow. This means the person receives less air with each inhalation, which can result in coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. The severity of attacks differ from person to person, as do the triggers for attacks. Every person has his or her own triggers, which can include emotional stress, allergens, exercise and even food allergies.

Egg Allergies

Eating certain foods can trigger asthma symptoms if the person is allergic to the food. Common asthma-inducing foods include milk, nuts, wheat, fish and eggs. Eating eggs does not cause symptoms in every asthma patient despite eggs being one of the more common allergy-causing foods. Egg allergy is caused by an overreaction of the immune system that identifies proteins in the egg as harmful. The immune system identifies the protein and sends out histamines to combat it. Asthma is a commonly reported symptom of egg allergy as are rashes, nausea and a runny nose.

Diagnosis

Allergy symptoms can occur within minutes or hours after eating eggs. A person with asthma should keep track of when symptoms occur and identify possible triggers such as egg allergy. A doctor should then be consulted for a proper diagnosis. Allergy tests can include a skin test or a blood test. In the skin test, a small amount of egg protein will be pricked into the skin--if hives develop then an egg allergy exists. In a blood test, a blood sample is taken and measured for sensitivity to eggs. For those with egg allergies, the best option is to avoid eating eggs.

Asthma Treatment

Most patients with asthma will pursue long-term and short-term treatment options. Both long-term treatment and quick relief include taking pills and using medicated inhalers. A doctor will prescribe the appropriate drug based on the severity of the asthma. For people with allergy-inducing asthma, specific allergy-fighting medications or allergy shots may be prescribed. Unfortunately, the only way to prevent the symptoms of egg allergy is to avoid eggs. If some egg is accidentally eaten, antihistamines can be taken to reduce symptoms.

Avoiding Eggs

Avoiding eggs can be difficult as most processed foods, including baked goods, breakfast cereals, meatballs, noodle soups, processed meats and spaghetti, have eggs as an ingredient. Checking the ingredients label is an important first step; however, the label may list egg components such as albumin, lecithin, lysozyme and ovalbumin. It is important to discuss egg allergy and asthma with a doctor. A doctor can give a better idea on what to avoid and how.

References

• Asthma Triggers and Management
• Asthma
• Egg Allergy

Resources

• Egg Allergies-- Foods to Avoid