Your Guide to Allergists: When to Seek Professional Help for Allergies

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What is an Allergy?

An allergy is an immune system response to a foreign substance, such as pollen, dust, or food. When your immune system detects a foreign substance, it produces histamines to attack the substance. This can cause a range of symptoms, including sneezing, coughing, itching, and swelling. 

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Anyone can develop allergies, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. However, some people may be more susceptible to developing allergies due to genetic factors. If one or both parents have allergies, their children are more likely to develop allergies as well. Additionally, exposure to allergens early in life may increase the risk of developing allergies. 

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Allergies can develop at any time, even if you have never had them before. It is important to be aware of common allergens and their symptoms so you can identify any potential allergies and seek treatment if necessary.

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What is an Allergist?

An allergist is a medical professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies. Allergists are trained to identify the causes of allergies and to develop a treatment plan to manage the symptoms. They are also trained to perform allergy testing to identify the specific allergens that are causing your symptoms.

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Common allergy symptoms include:

If you’re noticing these symptoms on a frequent basis, that might be your body's way of telling you something is wrong. 

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy eyes
• Skin rash
• Nasal congestion
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping
• Swelling of the face, eyes, or tongue
  
  

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, especially over a prolonged period of time, that may be your body warning you that something is wrong. It might be worth a trip to the allergist, to see what the root cause could be.

What Conditions do Allergists Treat?

Allergists treat a wide range of conditions, including:

• Seasonal allergies (hay fever or allergic rhinitis)
• Food allergies
• Skin allergies (eczema, hives)
• Asthma
• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
• Nasal structural issues (At Aspire Allergy & Sinus, we treat allergies and sinus conditions!)

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What Can an Allergist Do to Treat Your Allergies?

Allergists use a variety of treatments to manage allergy symptoms, including:

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Immunotherapy

This is a long-term treatment that involves exposing the patient to small amounts of the allergen to desensitize the immune system. This can be done through shots or sublingual drops.

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ExACT Immunoplasty

‍Our fastest and most innovative treatment at Aspire Allergy & Sinus! Our ExACT treatment can treat your allergies with just three shots over the span of eight weeks! It’s been clinically proven to be as effective as 3 years worth of allergy shots.

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Allergy testing

‍Allergy testing is used to identify the specific allergens that are causing your symptoms. This can be done through skin tests or blood tests.

Medications

‍Allergists can prescribe medications to manage allergy symptoms, including antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal corticosteroids.

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Top 7 Reasons Why You Need To Visit An Allergist:

There are several reasons why seeing an allergist would be helpful if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

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• Chronic sinus infections: If you are experiencing recurrent sinus infections that last longer than eight weeks, it may be a sign of allergies. An allergist can help identify the specific allergens that are causing your symptoms and develop a treatment plan to manage them. This can help reduce the frequency and severity of your sinus infections.
  
  
• Nasal congestion: If you have persistent nasal congestion that is not relieved by over-the-counter medications, it may be a sign of allergies. An allergist can perform allergy testing to identify the specific allergens that are causing your symptoms and develop a treatment plan to manage them. This can help reduce your nasal congestion and improve your breathing.
  
  
• Difficulty breathing: If you are experiencing shortness of breath, wheezing, or coughing, it could be a sign of asthma or other respiratory conditions triggered by allergies. An allergist can perform lung function tests and allergy testing to identify the specific allergens that are causing your symptoms and develop a treatment plan to manage them. This can help improve your breathing and reduce the severity of your symptoms.
  
  
• Allergy symptoms for several months: Despite what you might and hear and see from others, suffering from allergies for weeks on end is not normal. If you have been experiencing allergy symptoms for several months, seeing an allergist can help decide if your allergies are actually a sinus issue or a structural issue.
  
  
• Decreased quality of life: Allergies can significantly impact your quality of life by interfering with daily activities, such as work, school, outdoor activities, vacation and so much more.
  
  
• Missing days of work or school: In the United States, there are an estimated 2 million days missed from both work and school due to allergy symptoms. If you’ve missed more than 3 days due to allergic rhinitis it may be time to see an allergist to develop a treatment plan to manage your symptoms. This can help reduce the frequency and severity of your symptoms and improve your ability to attend work or school.

• Always getting sick: If you are constantly getting sick, it could be a sign of allergies that are weakening your immune system. Beginning a treatment plan or even prevention plan for allergies can help improve your immune system and reduce the frequency and severity of your illnesses.

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How Aspire Allergy & Sinus Can Help

Allergists can perform comprehensive allergy tests to help determine the specific allergens that trigger your symptoms and create a personalized treatment plan to alleviate them. At Aspire Allergy & Sinus, we take a specialized approach to each patient with our customizable treatments. Our long-term relief treatments are designed to address the root cause of your allergies, not just mask your allergy symptoms. We offer a range of treatment options, including allergy drops, allergy shots, and ExACT immunotherapy, to help you find relief from your allergy symptoms.

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If left untreated, allergies can lead to sinus issues over time. Fortunately, at Aspire Allergy & Sinus, we specialize in both allergy and sinus treatment and offer in-house sinus CT scans and procedures. If you're experiencing severe allergy symptoms that are impacting your quality of life, it may be time to seek treatment. Don't suffer in silence - book an appointment with us today and start feeling better soon.

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