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!

Moving Beyond Your Mucousy Misery: A Guide to Visiting the Allergy Doctor

Brain fog. Puffy eyes. Constantly dripping nose. Sneezes that throw your back out. Wishing you took out stock in the tissue industry…. When you’re experiencing more than your typical allergies, a typical doctor such as your primary care physician may not be able to offer the symptom management you need. To get back to your much-loved and missing quality of life, enlisting the help of a knowledgeable and well-versed allergy doctor may be in order.
How can you attain optimal results?

• Plan ahead.
  Keeping a symptom diary on timing and triggers before visiting your area Scottsdale allergy clinic.
• Follow through.
  Make – and attend – the appointment. Your allergy doctor can’t help you if you don’t show! Be sure to ask about special instructions for you appointment for the most efficient use of everyone’s time.
• Be prepared.
  During your visit, be sure to have access to the following information:
  
  • Your complete medical history.
    This may involve a records transfer from other physicians to help your allergist paint a complete picture and understand if any lifelong problems may be contributing to your condition.
  • Your allergy history – and your family’s.
    This helps your doctor gain a better understanding on contributing factors, such as desert foliage, pollution, and other common contributors. Family history is also especially important in food allergies.
  • Your medications.
    Bring in medications currently in use, as well as those used in the past which have been effective, for your doctor to review during your visit.
  • Your questions.
    Allergy doctors like – and encourage – questions. Writing a list prior to your visit ensures you won’t forget any.

Though some general practitioners may be able to diagnose and treat your allergies, moderate, severe, or long-lasting cases require the attention of an understanding allergy doctor. Get the help your raw nose and antihistamine-laden body really needs. Find a Scottsdale allergy clinic near you today!

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

What Allergy Sufferers Should Know Before Moving to the Desert

If you suffer from allergies –particularly if they are severe-, you might think moving out to the desert will help relieve your symptoms. However, what seems like the perfect solution might actually wind up making your allergies worse, or causing you to develop new ones. While you might not have the tree pollen you’re allergic to, deserts often have winds that whip up dust and sand. In addition, many desert communities have added golf courses to attract vacationers and retirees, which means extra grass pollen, dust, and spores are kicked into the air every time the greens are mowed or otherwise manicured. Lastly, while you may have left behind what you were allergic to back home, your immune system may inevitably develop sensitivities to the trees and vegetation in your new desert home, leaving you miserable all over again. 

Why does this happen? Blame the fundamental cause of allergies: your immune system. An allergy develops when your body’s immune system mistakes something harmless –such as ragweed, grass, tree pollen, or dust- for a harmful pathogen and mounts a defense against it. It’s that immune response that causes the classic allergy symptoms that make you so miserable. When you move to a different climate, you might be able to escape your allergies for a few years. But as you grow accustomed to the new climate and environment, your immune system may find new potential allergens to latch onto, which starts the allergy cycle all over again. 

So how can you make your transition to a new location as smooth and symptom free as possible? Check in with your doctor or an allergist at an allergy and asthma clinic. They can discuss your symptoms with you, educate you on potential allergy risks in the area you will be moving to, and recommend a course of treatment that may help mitigate your symptoms.

Going beyond the symptoms in treating allergies

Allergies are pretty common in the spring. For a lot of people over the counter medicines work fine, but that is just treating the symptoms. Immunologists say shots can help a person develop a tolerance for allergies, and even cure them. The shots are an extreme measure though, and usually only done when allergies reach a severe level.

The allergies have to be severe enough, but doctors say allergies can be overcome with shots. You get the shots after going through a battery of tests to determine exactly what is causing your allergies, and to what degree. She shots are custom designed for each person, and you have to be consistent in going to the doctor to get the shot each week for it to work. After about six months the serum, or the shots, can be adjusted. A Scottsdale allergy clinic will advise you on the best approach for your individual condition by performing specific allergy tests on you.

The most common allergies are grass and ragweed pollens. People are also allergic   to tree pollen, mold, dust, food and other things. Sometimes it is a combination of things, like ragweed and mold, that cause symptoms.

A daily pill that can be used for grass and ragweed allergies, which work as well as shots. But it only works for those two things. If you have mold allergies too, you will have to get shots. The shots may also be tailored to fit your individual condition, and can address both pollen and mold, or any combination you might have.

The goal of immunology is to completely cure the allergy problem by helping a person build up a tolerance for the thing that is causing an allergic reaction. If symptoms are beyond minor, or if they last all year, this might be a reasonable alternative. The shots do require that you go to see the doctor once a week, which is a commitment of time and money. Immunology or immunologist and Scottsdale Allergy Doctor will closely monitor your progress and adjust the shots as time passes to get the best overall effect.