Do I Have Asthma, or am I Just Out of Shape?

Can’t make it to a 10 count without gasping for air? It may not be an exercise routine that’s too difficult for you – it may be asthma, or exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) to be precise. How can your Phoenix asthma specialist tell the difference?

Diving into EIB:

One in 10 experience exercise-induced bronchospasm – when airway muscle spasms constrict airflow. This asthma-related coughing or shortness of breath typically occurs 5 to 10 minutes after exercise starts or ends. It is typically accompanied by wheezing, chest tightness, and fatigue, and may be more pronounced in cold, dry environments.

Drop and give me 20:

A  Phoenix asthma specialist can diagnose this condition with the help of breathing tests performed after exercise and while resting. They will also take a thorough medical history to identify other potential triggers, which can worsen this condition, such as air pollution, high pollen counts and respiratory infections.

Reaching your potential:

Luckily, a diagnosis of EIB doesn’t mean the end of exercise goals. A trained allergy and asthma doctor can help you reach new heights with lifestyle changes and proper treatment, including:

• Proper hydration.
• Effective warm-ups and cool-downs that will benefit your condition.
• The prescription of inhaled bronchodilators such as albuterol or formoterol before exercise as bronchospasm prevention or as needed for symptom relief.
• Identifying environmental triggers.
• Advice on new exercise routines or ways to minimize exposure to environmental triggers, such as wearing a scarf during cold weather, exercising in a climate-controlled environment, and more.

Tired of struggling through your exercise routine? Don’t throw in the towel – take it to the next level. Find a Phoenix asthma specialist near you today.

Does My Child Have Asthma?

Regardless of the age of your child, the possibility of asthma can be frightening. Add to the experience the inability for preschool or younger aged children to verbalize dangerous symptoms, and the threat of asthma can be all the more terrifying. If you cannot tell what’s going on with your child, is there any way for your Phoenix asthma doctor to verify this condition?

First, does your child experience these asthma-related symptoms?

Be on alert for these signs if you’re unsure if your child has asthma, particularly in infants and toddlers, who are at greater risk:

• Colds that frequently settle in the chest.
• A nagging cough, which worsens at night or is aggravated by triggers (smoke, perfume, pollen, dust, dander…).
• A wheezing or whistling sound when breathing out.
• Difficulty breathing or fast breathing causing the skin around the ribs and/or neck to be drawn in.
• A family history of allergies, hay fever, hives, asthma, or eczema.

If your child has some or all of these symptoms, have asthma diagnosed!

In children, especially the very young, asthma can be difficult to recognize, however it is very important for children to receive proper treatment. That’s why an asthma doctor, often called an asthma specialist, is necessary for accurate diagnosis. How is asthma verified? In children old enough, it’s confirmed with an airflow test, which involves blowing very hard into a tube. Unfortunately, pre-kindergarten age children may not be able to perform this test, so parents and caregivers will need to remain on alert for symptoms.

How is it treated?

Pediatric asthma is typically managed with asthma medications such as bronchodilators (via inhaler or nebulizer) for rapid relief of attacks, and corticosteroid anti-inflammatories to prevent symptoms and attacks. Skin or blood tests may also be performed to identify allergies that trigger symptoms, and an asthma control plan drafted so you can identify when help is necessary.

Unsure if your child has asthma? Don't put your child at risk. Find a Phoenix pediatric doctor specializing in asthma and allergiesnear you today.

Tips For Hiring the Best Allergy Doctor

When it comes to your health, do you want a Phoenix 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 Phoenix 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? Does the specialist work often with sinus allergies or are they only knowledgeable about certain types of food allergies, such as gluten. The more experience, the more testing methods, the larger number of patients served, 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:

Is the hospital the allergist has privileges at top-rated and conveniently located? Both accessibility and quality can affect outcomes in situations in which hospital care is necessary.

Rely on respect.

A top rated Phoenix 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. If you are looking for a caring specialist with a friendly, knowledgeable team behind him/her, please call us! We would love to help you!

Things Your Immunologist Wishes You Knew About Allergies

It goes without saying enduring allergy symptoms is a miserable experience. Add to that allergy ignorance, and you’re looking at long-term suffering. Fortunately, that suffering can be alleviated. Unfortunately, your Glendale Asthma & Allergy Clinic may assume you have the necessary information to address the situation when, in fact, you’re seriously in the dark.

Shed some light on stubborn allergy symptoms with these potentially missing links:
If the immunologist at your local allergy and asthma clinic could get in your head, you might discover…

•You may be taking the wrong medication.
Avoiding the doctor with over-the-counter (OTC) oral antihistamines isn’t helping. Prescription steroid nasal sprays and prescribed antihistamines work significantly better.

•You waited too long.
Starting medication prescribed by your allergy and asthma clinic after allergies set-in makes treatment difficult.

•You need some personal space from your pet.
Keeping them out of your bedroom will make a huge difference – as will a HEPA air purifier.

•Your pet’s NOT hypoallergenic.
He might shed less hair, but you could be allergic to dander or saliva.

•You DO need those expensive bedding covers.
Pillow and mattress encasings between 2-4 microns prevent dust mite migration for those with dust mite related allergies.

•Neti pots work.
Even allergists use them.

•You can’t outrun allergies.
No matter how far away you move, you could develop allergies anywhere at any time. And if you’re allergic to one kind of pollen, it increases your likelihood of developing allergies to other (new) pollens.

•You don’t have to suffer.
Though you might feel like it, you won’t die from allergic rhinitis. But suffering through them without visiting the immunologist won’t win you a medal. Untreated symptoms could end up costing you more in sinus and ear infections – and lost sleep. Stop waiting for spontaneous remission and get help.

Tired of sneezing your way through the day? Find an allergy and asthma clinic near you today!

Food Allergies: Are You Avoiding Favorite Foods for No Good Reason?

Living with food allergies can be dangerous, and at the very least a hassle, particularly if you’re living your entire life around the avoidance of foods you aren’t actually allergic to. How can you know for sure if you actually suffer from food allergies or if you’re complicating your life unnecessarily? Your local Arizona asthma & allergy clinic can help…
Why you may not have allergies
Research shows that of the 20% of individuals who claim to suffer food allergies, only 3-4% are actually affected. Why the discrepancy? Many of these individuals have food intolerances and other health issues, and have never received food allergy tests from a trained Scottsdale Asthma & Allergy Clinic specialist able to make them aware of the distinction.


Allergy vs intolerance: What’s the difference?

• Food intolerances
  Intolerances become more common with age. They occur in the digestive system, where foods that cannot be properly broken down result in symptoms such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Common culprits includes sugars found in dairy (lactose), and also fructose from fruit, veggies, honey, and some fruit drinks and soft drinks. Food intolerances can also result in headaches, such as is the case with chocolate, cheese, and wine.
  
  
• Food allergies
  Food allergies result from the body’s abnormal response to a food, occurring within minutes to hours of contact with the offending substance. Symptoms may also include gas, bloating, and diarrhea, as well as runny/itchy nose, congestion, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing; skin itching, swelling, or hives; and in severe cases anaphylaxis. Some allergies are outgrown over time, while others (nut, fish, and shellfish) persist throughout life.
  
  

Know before you say “no”
Food allergies can be diagnosed by an allergy specialist. Diagnosis should include a detailed medical history, physical exam, food allergy tests, food journaling, and to confirm results, a placebo-controlled food challenge in the doctor’s office.
Don’t needlessly avoid your favorite foods. Find out the facts with the help of a Scottsdale Asthma & Allergy Clinic specialist near you today!

Why’s an Asthma Specialist so Special?

Family physicians and general practitioners are great for handling day-to-day health issues. But oxygen deficiency resulting from asthma symptoms can be serious business. That’s where a great asthma specialist can help. What makes them “special”? An asthma doctor is trained specially for taking care of patients dealing with asthma.

How much training does an asthma specialist have?
Your local Phoenix Allergy & Asthma Clinic asthma specialist has received a minimum of 9 years of training, as well as an additional two year fellowship focused on either allergic or lung diseases. Types of doctors that treat asthma include:

• Allergists/Immunologists
  Treat allergic diseases, including asthma.
  
• Pulmonologists
  Specialize in diseases effecting the lungs.

Why so much training?
Because asthma is serious business. It cannot be managed with a simple prescription such as with colds, flus, aches and pains. Asthma is a chronic disease, requiring constant monitoring and attention for effective management and prevention of dangerous asthma attacks.

What are the benefits of seeing an asthma specialist?

• Better management of symptoms.
• Reduced absences from work/school due to asthma symptoms.
• Less emergency room visits.
• Improved quality of life.

Do I need an asthma specialist?
If you’ve been trying to manage asthma for months without relief of symptoms, an asthma specialist may be better able to help you keep the condition under control. An asthma specialist is an especially good idea if you:

• Have been hospitalized for asthma symptoms due to the inability to control them.
• Have experienced life-threatening asthma attacks.
• Are suffering unusual asthma symptoms.
• Experience allergy-induced asthma symptoms.
• Have other health conditions.

Ready to start breathing easier? Find an asthma specialist near you today.

Asthma: Cure and treatment

 Asthma effects 25 million Americans, its incidence growing at an alarming rate. Controlling its symptoms can be a frustrating experience, leaving asthma suffers to feel lost as to the causes and frequency of attacks. What’s an asthma sufferer to do? Have a plan!

Know and avoid your triggers

Common triggers identified by your Phoenix Allergy and Asthma Clinic include:

• Colds
• Upper respiratory infections
• Cold weather
• Exercise
• Pet dander and other allergens
• Cigarette smoke and other pollutants effecting air quality
• Severe heartburn (including GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease)

  

Fight flare-ups with the right medications

• Long term control
• Inhaled corticosteroids such as fluticasone, budesonide, mometasone and beclomethasone.
• Combination inhalers such as fluticasone-salmeterol, budesonide-formoterol and mometasone-formoterol.
• Leukotriene modifiers, such as montelukast .
• Theophylline
• Cromolyn
• And more (a quality asthma specialist will know which one is right for you)

• Quick relief:
• Bronchodilators delivered via inhaler or nebulizer.

• Immunotherapy:
• Allergy shots determined by allergy tests

  

Recognize the signs of impending attacks

These include an increased need for your rescue inhaler and increased frequency of asthma signs and problems:

• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
• Chest tightness/pain
• Whistling/wheezing sounds
• Difficulty sleeping due to breathing issues
• Coughing/wheezing worsened by cold and flu

  

Track it

Always track your asthma symptoms, including flare-ups and how asthma is effecting your normal activities. Note how well medications are managing symptoms, and side effects, making changes with the help of your asthma doctor as needed. The more quickly you act, the less likely severe attacks will occur, reducing your need for medication and emergency medical attention.

Know when to go

Seek emergency treatment when difficulty breathing rapidly worsens, asthma effects minimal physical activity (such as a trip to the bathroom), and symptoms do not improve with the help of your rescue inhaler.

6 Simple Tips for Reducing Fall Allergies

Your allergist in Avondale knows fall can be a miserable time for allergy sufferers. Why do fall allergies seem to wreak more havoc than in the spring? Cooler weather and changing foliage leading plants and weeds to release pollens, in addition to the additional punch of outdoor molds proliferating under fallen leaves.

Before ragweed and other fall allergens have you running to your allergist-immunologist, try implementing these simple, common sense tips for foiling fall allergies:

1. Plan ahead.
   Before you plan outdoor activities, check pollen counts, scheduling events for when pollen is at its lowest.
    
2. Take an antihistamine.
   Consult your allergist in Avondale to determine the best over the counter antihistamines to take before heading outdoors.
    
3. Reduce exposure.
   If you can’t skip outdoor activities, consider donning a mask and leaving tasks until the middle of the day when pollen is at its lowest. Avoid outdoor activities in the early morning hours
    
4. Stay clean.
   Your home – and your body. Wash off as soon as possible after spending time outside. When possible, change clothes before entering your home to prevent distributing allergens inside. Store shoes outside, and don’t hang clothes out to dry either.
    

Make sure air conditioning system is clean!
When allergy season is in full bloom, close your windows and let your heating and air system help you keep indoor air clear of allergens. Change your filter regularly, particularly during allergy season. To prevent the distribution of allergens throughout your home.  Also, investing in a HEPA air filter would be worthwhile! Don’t hide out in your home, manager allergies with ease this fall season. With these simple tips and the help of your immunologist, you too can get back to enjoying the great outdoors!

Allergy-Free Outdoor Living Yard in the Desert during Fall?

Desert fall brings a drop in temperatures but also brings fall allergies.  The weather becomes beautiful but asthma and allergy sufferers sometimes get cooped up indoors - and not able to enjoy the AZ outdoors like they so desperately look forward to after surviving 4 months of 100 degree temperatures.

Be the change, opting for hypoallergenic landscaping options that can help return you a great outdoors. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. Even reducing the allergenic plants in a single garden can make a difference for asthma clinic patrons and sufferers, reducing pollen levels and the spread of allergenic plants far and wide.

Allergy-proof your yard with these suggestions from a Scottsdale allergy doctor & specialist:

• Fruit trees
  With the exception of citrus flower fragrance, fruit trees are generally not allergenic or irritating.
• Bamboo and palms
  Bamboo and female date and fan palms offer a beautiful, drought-tolerant option for your yard.
• Succulents and Cacti
  The following do not produce wind-born pollen and are excellent low-water choices:
• Saguaro
• Peruvian Cereus
• Golden Barrel
• Hedgehog Cactus
• Rainbow Cactus
• Easter Lily
• Sea Urchin Cactus
• Prickly Pear
• Cholla
• Organ Pipe
• Vines
  Hypo-allergenic climbers include bougainvillea, queen’s wreath, trumpet creeper, passion flower, cat’s claw, and roses such as Lady Banks and Tombstone.
• Shrubs
  The University of Arizona’s offers an extensive list of shrubs which are both low-allergy and drought tolerant.
• Accent plants
  For accent planting, your allergy and asthma clinic suggests various yucca species, agave, and aloe, as well as sotol, desert spoon, ocotillo, and Mexican evening primrose are your friends.
• Brightly colored flowers
  Attracting bees, insects, and hummingbirds, these flowers are generally not allergenic:
• Annual: California poppy, Mexican gold poppy; desert and arroyo lupine.
• Perennial: assorted penstemons, chia, globe-mallow, and Peruvian and Goodding verbena.
• Ground cover
  Morning glory, trailing indigo bush, lantana, African daisy, and rosemary, in addition to ice plant, treasure flower, germander, and gazania offer great low-lying options.

Pediatric allergists suggest avoiding these highly allergenic landscaping choices:

• Olive trees
• Mesquite trees
• Juniper trees
• Nut trees
• Bermuda grass and most other grass species
• Triangle Leaf Bursage (Rabbit Bush)
• Desert Broom
• Privet

Ready to head out and get started on an allergy-free outdoor retreat? You’re sure to get the job done with your local allergy and asthma clinic and the University of Arizona Agricultural extension service. Start sowing the seeds of change today!
University of Arizona Health Sciences Center. Gardens Compatible with Respiratory Allergy in Southern and Central Arizona. http://allergy.peds.arizona.edu/southwest/lowpollen.html.
Dr. Aaron Davis, M.D. Cedar Fever is Coming to Town. Retrieved from: http://www.allergyasthmaaz.com/blog/.