Are allergies and asthma treated differently?

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

• Leukotriene modifier. This type of medication 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 (immunotherapy). Allergy shots can help treat asthma by gradually reducing your immune-system response to certain allergy triggers. Immunotherapy involves getting regular injections of 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 decrease as well. This treatment generally requires regular injections over a period of time.

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

  The next time you encounter that allergen, the IgE antibodies sense it and signal your immune system to release a chemical called histamine, as well as other chemicals, into your bloodstream. The medication omalizumab (Xolair) interferes with IgE in the body and helps prevent the allergic reaction that triggers asthma symptoms. This treatment is used for more severe allergic asthma, but it might also help allergic rhinitis.

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