Sam is writing a report on asthma and allergies. What is the MOST accurate way to categorize these two ailments?
The most accurate way to categorize asthma and allergies is as follows:
1. Asthma: Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by airway inflammation and constriction, causing symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. It is primarily a disease of the respiratory system.
2. Allergies: Allergies are a hypersensitivity reaction of the immune system to substances that are typically harmless to most individuals. Common allergens include pollen, dust mites, pet dander, certain foods, and certain medications. Allergies can manifest in various ways, such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis), allergic asthma, skin rashes (eczema), or anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction).
Categorizing asthma as a respiratory condition and allergies as immune system hypersensitivity reactions helps highlight the different underlying mechanisms and physiological aspects of these two ailments.