Allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis is commonly referred to as simply having allergies or hay fever. Inflammation of the nasal passages and the eyes from environmental allergens like tree/grass/weed pollens, cats, dogs, and dust mites can cause runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and itchy/watery eyes.

Asthma is a chronic lung condition of inflamed and narrow airways. Symptoms can include:

• Coughing, often worse at night and sometimes interfering with sleep.
• Shortness of breath, possibly feeling like you can’t catch your breath or can’t get air out of your lungs.
• Chest tightness, which may feel like something squeezing your chest.
• Wheezing, a whistling or squeaky sound that occurs with breathing, more often with exhaling.

In our office we do a breathing test (spirometry) to assess your lung function. This can tell us if you have asthma and what type of treatment may be best for you. Half of all asthma is believed to be caused by allergies, which is why we often test for allergies in our patients with breathing difficulties. Asthma symptoms can also be aggravated by viral and bacterial infections, which is why it is helpful to support your immune system in staying healthy.

Sometimes asthma symptoms can be a mere annoyance, other times they can be severe and even life-threatening. It is essential to detect and treat symptoms early so that they don’t become severe. The current federal guidelines recommend getting regular check ups of your lung function at least every 6 months for asthma, though you may need to come in more frequently if your symptoms are out of control.

Asthma treatments often include albuterol or inhaled corticosteroids. Many of our patients with allergic asthma also benefit from allergy shots or biologic injection medications.

There is currently no cure for asthma. Even when you feel fine, the asthma is still present and can flare up at anytime. We can help you breathe more easily, maintain healthy lung function, and manage asthma flares.


<http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_WhatIs.html>

After coming in contact with an allergen or irritant, your skin can become red, inflamed, and itchy which is known as contact dermatitis. Allergens/irritants can be a number of things like clothing material, cosmetics, jewelry, plants, and fragrances to name a few.

Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. This is a condition where patches of skin become dry, itchy, red, and inflamed.

This condition is a chronic allergic inflammatory disease of the esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach). This occurs when cells called eosinophils are elevated and accumulate in the esophagus. Symptoms may include difficulty swallowing and feeling like food gets stuck in your throat.

When your body's immune system has an abnormal reaction to one or more proteins in food. Symptoms include hives, swelling of the lips/face/tongue, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and difficulty breathing. See how we can treat your food allergy.

Nasal polyps are a benign growth on the lining of the nose or sinuses. The most common symptoms of nasal polyps are difficulty breathing of the nose and/or decease sense of smell.

A type of allergy which causes itching of the mouth, throat, and tongue. This occurs when you have allergies to tree/grass/weed pollens which have similar protein structures to certain fruits and vegetables.

Do you wake up stuffy every morning? Do you love cats but can’t have one because of allergies? Do you get itchy, watery eyes every time you’re around a dog? Do you have asthma and wonder if you might be allergic to the cat sleeping on your pillow?

On your first visit we can tell you if you are allergic to cats, dogs, and dust mites, all of which can contribute to year-round allergy and asthma symptoms.

On your first visit, which is typically 1 hour, we will do the following:

• Get a detailed history of your allergy symptoms
• Perform a physical exam looking for tell-tale signs of allergies

Complete an allergy skin test, looking for reactions to various pollens, grasses, weeds, molds, dust mites, dogs, cats, feathers, and more.

• Discuss a detailed plan of action to successfully manage your symptoms
• Send you home with medications that work

You don’t need to break up with your significant other just because they have a cat. You can visit your friends with dogs without being miserable. We can help you manage pet and dust mite allergies. Call us today to set up at appointment and start feeling better right away.

Acute sinusitis is an inflammation or swelling of the tissues of the sinuses or nasal passages. This swelling allows mucus to build up which becomes a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria, resulting in a sinus infection. Symptoms of sinus infection can include:

• headache and pressure around your nose or eyes
• difficulty breathing through your nose
• yellow/green nasal discharge

Seasonal allergens or exposure to pets or dust mite allergens are common causes of sinusitis. In fact, sinus infections are the #1 complication of allergies. Unresolved cold or flu can also lead to sinus infections. Acute sinus infections may resolve on their own, but some people will require antibiotics for acute or chronic infections. If the problem is chronic, we may need to get an X-ray or CT scan of your sinuses. Sinus infections may be prevented by getting allergies under control with medication or allergy shots. Daily sinus rinse (such as a Neti pot) may also be helpful.


<http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical/IM02891>

Urticaria is swollen, pale-red bumps or wheals on the skin that can appear suddenly and come and go due to the body's reaction to certain allergens or for an unknown reason. Hives usually are itchy but can also have the sensation of sting or burn.

Unlike urticaria (hives), which effects the upper layer of the skin, angiodema affects the deeper layers usually around the face and lips.