Asthma, Allergy and Overlapping Conditions
Asthma and allergic conditions sometimes occur alongside other conditions that involve sensitive regulatory systems.
Research suggests that respiratory and allergic symptoms appear more often in several overlapping disorders, including migraine, autonomic conditions, and connective tissue differences.
Some examples include:
Migraine
Respiratory allergies are reported more often in people with migraine.
• Studies suggest about 40–60% of people with migraine report allergic rhinitis (1).
• Asthma occurs in roughly 15–35% of people with migraine (2).
Shared mechanisms may involve inflammation, autonomic nervous system regulation, and sensitivity to environmental triggers.
ME/CFS Spectrum
Respiratory allergies and asthma are frequently reported in people with ME/CFS.
• Studies suggest around 30–50% of people with ME/CFS report allergic symptoms or asthma (3).
Fibromyalgia Spectrum
Allergic diseases are also reported more frequently in fibromyalgia.
• Research suggests about 25–45% of people with fibromyalgia report allergic conditions (4).
Hypermobility Spectrum Differences
People with joint hypermobility often report respiratory allergies or asthma.
• Some studies estimate 30–50% of individuals with hypermobility report allergic conditions (5).
POTS and Autonomic Symptoms
Allergic symptoms and asthma are also common in people with autonomic disorders.
• Around 30–40% of people with POTS report allergic conditions or asthma (6).
Autism and Sensory Processing Differences
Children and adults on the autism spectrum also appear to experience higher rates of asthma and allergic conditionscompared with the general population (7).
Related Respiratory Conditions
Some respiratory conditions can overlap with asthma or allergies and produce similar symptoms.
Non-Allergic (Vasomotor) Rhinitis
Non-allergic rhinitis occurs when nasal symptoms are triggered by environmental irritants rather than allergies.
Triggers may include:
• strong fragrances
• smoke or pollution
• cleaning products
• weather changes
This condition may affect 10–30% of people with chronic rhinitis symptoms (8).
Vocal Cord Dysfunction
Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) occurs when the vocal cords close during breathing.
Symptoms can include:
• breathing difficulty
• throat tightness
• wheezing or noisy breathing
• coughing
VCD can occur alongside asthma or be mistaken for asthma, and may involve airway reflex sensitivity (9).
Connection to ALPIMS
Within the ALPIMS framework, respiratory and allergic conditions may involve several regulatory domains:
I — Immune
allergic inflammation and airway responses
A — Autonomic
breathing regulation and airway reflexes
S — Sensory
sensitivity to environmental triggers such as smells, smoke, and chemicals
These overlapping systems may help explain why respiratory symptoms sometimes appear alongside neurological, autonomic, or sensory conditions.
Resources
Asthma Australia
https://asthma.org.au
Information on asthma management, triggers, and support services in Australia.
Health Direct https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/hay-fever
References
- Ku M et al. Association between migraine and allergic rhinitis. Annals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.
- Aamodt AH et al. Asthma and headache: a population-based study. Cephalalgia.
- Institute of Medicine. Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
- Yunus MB. Central sensitivity syndromes. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism.
- Hakim AJ et al. Hypermobility and autonomic dysfunction. Rheumatology International.
- Raj SR. Postural tachycardia syndrome. Circulation.
- Theoharides TC et al. Immune dysregulation in autism. Journal of Neuroinflammation.
- Baraniuk JN. Nonallergic rhinitis. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports.
- Newman KB et al. Clinical features of vocal cord dysfunction. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
