Tips For Hiring the Best Allergy Doctor

When it comes to your health, do you want a Scottsdale allergy clinic that is superb or so-so? Finding a great allergy doctor can help you more quickly determine the cause of your allergies – and identify effective methods of control that can return your quality of life back to normal. What are the tricks to finding this paragon of knowledge?

Research reputation.

The best allergists will get results, gaining great word of mouth. Forget flashy advertisements - they will hold superior online and personal reviews. Don’t be afraid to schedule an initial consultation to interview the doctor and get references.

Get credentials.

Board certification by The American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI) shows an allergy doctor has the training and experience necessary to get the results you need, and a lack of malpractice claims and disciplinary actions means your health is safe in their hands.

Verify experience in your condition.

How many has the allergist treated? The more, the better.

Consider gender.

Gender-specific care is becoming increasingly common. Does the doctor have experience treating the allergy in your gender, or does your allergy involve an issue you’d be more comfortable discussing with a particular sex?

Love their location.

Does the allergy doctor in question have offices conveniently located to you, with scheduling that meets your hectic lifestyle? If these things don’t fit, you’re unlikely to follow up on treatments and get results.

Hone-in on hospital quality.

1. Is the hospital the allergist has privileges at top-rated and conveniently located? Both accessibility and quality can effect outcomes in situations in which hospital care is necessary.
2. Rely on respect.
3. A superior allergist will be open to questions, interested in getting to know you, and considerate of your treatment preferences and decisions. Asking questions and noting responses is a great way to gauge communication styles.

It’s your health. Find the right area allergist to help you. Contact a top rate allergy clinic near you today.

Can Food Allergies Be Treated?

Like any other allergy, a food allergy develops when your body's immune system mistakes an innocuous material for a harmful invader. Your immune system builds antibodies against that material, which leads to the allergy symptoms you may experience. Unlike many allergies, food allergies are one group that has the potential to be dangerous; allergies to foods such as nuts can lead to anaphylaxis, which can be fatal if not treated immediately. For most people, living with food allergies means totally avoiding the food that triggers the reaction; peanut allergy sufferers cannot eat any products that contain peanuts, for example. But can food allergies be treated? Like most allergies, it depends on the severity of the allergy and method of treatment. Remember to consult your doctor (or your child's pediatric allergy doctor, if your child is the one with allergies) before attempting to treat any allergy.

For mild allergies, over-the-counter treatments can work. For example, a mild allergy from eating shellfish might cause you to break out in hives. But taking Benadryl or similar antiistamines might alleviate the symptoms and make you more comfortable. If your allergies cause you to break out in an itchy rash, an oral or topical steroid cream may help alleviate the symptoms and speed up healing.

Unfortunately, for severe allergies that risk causing anaphylaxis, your best bet for treatment after exposure is to have an Epi-Pen with you at all times. An Epi-Pen is a device that's filled with Epinephrine (Adrenaline), which can counteract the life-threatening symptoms of anaphylaxis long enough for you to reach a hospital for further care. Once at the hospital, additional drugs will be administered for treatment, such as steroids, anti-histamines, and asthma medications if needed.

As with anything allergy related, speak with your doctor or allergist for allergy treatement recommendations for your specific allergies. Your doctor may also be able to recommend allergy shots, or other ways of potentially desensitizing you to allergens

Quit Wheezing....Enjoy the rest of spring!

Whether it's trees, flowers, and grasses in bloom, or animal dander, this spring is ripe with Arizona pollen and allergens. The contradictions inherent in allergy symptoms can be confusing. Your eyes might be itchy while also being dry or watery; your nose might be stuffy or runny. Instead of hunkering down and staying inside, or avoiding pets as much as you can, an allergist can determine the cause of your symptoms and eventually relieve them.

How do allergies work? Why do allergies have contradictory symptoms?

Allergic responses occur when an irritant disrupts your physiology and your body mounts an immune response to it.

For example, if you inhale some pollen that you're allergic to, a mild irritation can produce a runny nose or itchy, watery eyes. These are signs that your body is trying to flush out the irritant and return to homeostasis.With continued exposure to the irritant, your body's methods of "washing away" the pollen has become ineffective, and the inflammation associated with the immune response can cause swelling of the nasal passages, resulting in an uncomfortable, stuffy nose.

Over-the-counter antihistamines might alleviate mild allergic symptoms, and prescription medications such as steroid nasal sprays and decongestants can help manage more severe symptoms.

Allergies—like many other things—are individual; each person might have an unique profile of allergens that provoke responses.

With a personalized allergy evaluation of your situation, an Scottsdale allergy specialist can propose an appropriate course of action. Available structured immunotherapy treatments include shots and sublingual drops, which is becoming more common. An allergist can properly assess the onset, triggers, severity, and duration of your allergy symptoms so that you can enjoy spring again.

Options in Treating Allergy-Triggered Asthma

Allergies and asthma are not the same thing but the two conditions are closely related. Allergens are the cause of an allergy attack. In some cases the allergens can take the attack one more step and asthma occurs. When this happens the condition is called allergic asthma.

There are many types of allergens; they can include dust, animal dander, mites, pollen, smoke, and mold, just to name a few. Exercise can exacerbate the condition. The condition can be so irritable that a working knowledge of allergy and asthma care can save you some grief. The following are a sampling of treatments your doctor might suggest.

Allergy-Triggered Asthma Treatment Options:

• Short-Acting     Bronchodilators (Rescue Inhalers). These are     quick-acting, a real Johnny-on-the-spot solution. It’s always a good idea     to pack one and the effects can last 4 to 6 hours. They function by     dilating, or opening up, the airways leading to your lungs.
• Long-acting     Bronchodilators. These are similar to the     short-acting models except that a dose is good for about 12 hours so 2     treatments per day are required. Your doctor will most likely also     prescribe inhaled steroids.
• Inhaled     Corticosteroids. These are a step up in     strength from the above-mentioned inhalers. A key benefit is that they can     assist in keeping your lungs functioning better following future asthma     attacks.
• Anti-Leukotriene     Medications. there are many pills that     inhibit leukotrienes, which are molecules that trigger inflammation in     your airways. Some pills are more popular than others, check with your     allergist specialist for which pill is best suited for your situation.
• Antibody     Treatments. These are considered a a     last-resort medication for asthma that hasn’t responded well to other     treatments.

Avoiding Allergens in the First Place:

As much as it is possible, it benefits the sufferer to avoid allergens so as to minimize the amount of allergy and asthma care needed. In the seasons where the amount of pollen is high, try to stay indoors as much as possible. Refer to the daily allergen count on your local weather website.

Be sure that your HVAC return air filter has a filtration rating that your condition warrants. Don’t smoke or allow smoking in your home. Try to avoid contact with pets during an asthma attack. Dander is not your friend.

For more information on allergy-triggered asthma and the treatment options that are best suited for your situation, contact your local clinic. Our allergy and asthma clinics are located for our patient’s convenience and we are bilingual English/Spanish.