Allergies Specialist

What are allergies?

Allergies are your body’s overreaction to substances that aren’t typically harmful to other people. When you come into contact with an allergy trigger, your immune system produces antibodies in its own defense. It’s these antibodies that result in a variety of allergy symptoms.

Some of the most common allergy triggers include:

• Pollen
• Mold
• Dust
• Latex
• Pet dander
• Insect bites
• Medications

You can also experience physical symptoms if you eat certain foods such as nuts. Some people have only seasonal allergies that typically come and go when the pollen count in the air is high, while others have chronic allergies that produce a variety of symptoms year-round.

What are the symptoms of allergies?

The symptoms of allergies vary greatly depending on the type of allergy. For those allergic to pollen, dust, and pet dander, it’s common to experience symptoms like:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Watery, itchy eyes
• Stuffy or runny nose

If you have skin allergies, drug allergies, or are allergic to insect bites, you may develop a rash on your body, hives, or swelling of the skin.

Food allergies can cause tingling or burning sensations in your mouth, swelling in your throat or face, and hives on your skin.

For some, contact with an allergen can cause a life-threatening condition, known as anaphylaxis. This reaction causes sudden inflammation in the throat which can make it difficult, or even impossible to breathe. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and needs treatment as soon as possible with your own epinephrine device or at the nearest hospital or by calling 911.

How are allergies diagnosed?

To determine your allergy triggers, the team at Advanced Allergy & Asthma offers in-office allergy testing. The team uses both skin tests and blood tests to identify the substances that cause a physical reaction in your body.

As skilled allergists, the Advanced Allergy & Asthma physicians carefully supervise your reactions to a variety of common allergy triggers to prevent health complications during testing. Using the results of your tests, your provider customizes a treatment plan to prevent future reactions and help you manage allergy symptoms.

How are allergies treated?

There are three primary types of allergy treatments. Initially, your Advanced Allergy & Asthma provider may recommend measures to avoid triggers and over-the-counter or prescription medications to suppress existing allergy symptoms and prevent new ones.

The experienced allergists also offer in-office immunotherapy treatments, which involve gradually exposing your body to small amounts of allergens. This therapy effectively helps your body become desensitized to the allergen and reduces your physical reaction to allergy triggers.  This is the only therapy that can minimize or eliminate the allergy.

Over time, you can notice a significant reduction in your allergy symptoms even when exposed to known allergy triggers, reducing your dependence on medications and improving your overall quality of life.

To get help managing your chronic allergies, schedule a consultation online or by calling Advanced Allergy & Asthma today.