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You may wonder what allergies and asthma have in common besides making you miserable. A lot, as it turns out. Many people who have allergies also have asthma.

The same substances that trigger your hay fever symptoms may cause asthma symptoms. These include pollen, dust mites and pet dander. In some people, skin or food allergies can cause asthma symptoms. This is called allergic asthma.

James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic allergy specialist, answers questions about the link between allergies and asthma.