Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease: What It Is and How It Affects Your Breathing

When you take aspirin or other common painkillers like ibuprofen and your breathing gets worse—tight chest, stuffy nose, wheezing—you might be dealing with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, a condition where certain pain medications trigger severe respiratory reactions in sensitive individuals. Also known as AERD, it’s not just an allergy—it’s a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the airways and sinuses. People with AERD often already have asthma and nasal polyps, and taking even a small dose of aspirin or other NSAIDs can send their symptoms into overdrive. This isn’t a random reaction—it’s tied to how the body processes certain chemicals, leading to a surge in inflammatory signals that narrow the airways.

What makes AERD tricky is that it doesn’t show up on standard allergy tests. You won’t get a positive skin prick or blood test for it. Instead, doctors diagnose it based on your history: did your breathing get worse after taking aspirin? Do you have recurring nasal polyps that come back after surgery? Are you dealing with chronic sinus infections and a reduced sense of smell? These are the real clues. And it’s not just aspirin—any NSAID that blocks the COX-1 enzyme can trigger it, including ibuprofen, naproxen, and even some cold medicines. That’s why people with AERD need to be careful with over-the-counter pain relief. Even a single tablet can cause a reaction that lasts hours or days.

The condition often starts in adulthood, usually between ages 30 and 50, and hits harder in people who already struggle with asthma. Many also have chronic sinusitis and lose their sense of smell over time. The good news? There are ways to manage it. Some patients benefit from aspirin desensitization, a controlled process where they’re slowly exposed to aspirin under medical supervision. It doesn’t cure AERD, but it can reduce polyp growth, ease breathing, and cut down on steroid use. Others rely on biologics—medications like those targeting IL-5 or IgE—that help calm the overactive immune response in the airways. These are the same drugs used for severe asthma, and they’re showing real promise for AERD patients too.

What you’ll find in the posts below are clear, practical insights into how this condition connects with other health issues you might not realize are linked. From how biologics help control inflammation in the lungs to why certain medications interact dangerously with your breathing, these articles cut through the noise. You’ll learn what drugs to avoid, how to spot early signs, and what treatments actually work—not just what’s advertised. This isn’t theory. It’s what people with AERD and their doctors need to know to breathe easier.