Allergies Treatment
At Impact Medical, our experienced allergists strive to help you find relief and regain control over your allergies, so you can enjoy a life filled with comfort.
What Are Allergies?
Allergies are immune system responses to substances that are typically harmless but are perceived by the body as threats. These substances, known as allergens, can trigger a range of allergic reactions when they come in contact with the body. Allergies are common and can affect people of all ages.
Are There Different Types of Allergies?
There are many specific types of allergies. Learn more about the different varieties of allergies that we treat below.
Seasonal & Indoor Allergies
Seasonal allergies stem from outdoor triggers like pollen, while indoor allergies arise from dust mites, mold spores, cockroaches, and pet dander.
Food Allergies
A food allergy is a type of adverse food reaction that occurs from a specific immune response known as an IGE mediated immune response (Type I Hypersensitivity).
Bee Sting Allergies
Bee stings can trigger local or systemic reactions, including hives, swelling, gastrointestinal distress, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness.
Medication & Drug Allergies
Medication reactions occur from an immune response to a particular medication. Medications can produce a variety of immune responses leading to different types of reactions.
What Are Allergy Symptoms?
Allergies can manifest in various ways, with individuals experiencing a range of common signs and symptoms depending on the type of allergy they are experiencing. Here are some of the most common indicators:
Itchy Eyes
Allergic reactions often lead to itchy, watery eyes. This is a common symptom of environmental allergies.
Sneezing
Frequent sneezing is a common allergic response, often triggered by allergens, such as pollen or pet dander.
Rhinorrhea
Allergies can cause excess mucus production, resulting in a persistent runny nose or nasal congestion.
Coughing
Allergic rhinitis can lead to coughing either via postnasal drip or triggering asthma.
Skin Rashes
Both environmental and food allergens can lead to skin rashes, such as eczema, urticaria (hives) and angioedema (swelling).
Fatigue
Individuals suffering from year-round and/or seasonal allergies often experience fatigue as the immune system is “overreacting” to the environment and unnecessarily expending energy.
What Causes Allergies?
Allergies occur when the immune system reacts excessively to usually harmless substances, such as pollen, pet dander, foods, medications, and insect stings. Family history (genetics) and environmental factors play a role in the development of allergies.
Common allergy triggers include:
Diagnosing and Treating Allergies
Medical History
Reviewing a patient’s medical history is essential for diagnosing allergies as it helps identify potential triggers and underlying conditions.
Physical Evaluation
There are certain signs on physical exams suggestive for the presence of allergies. Examples include paleness, edematous nasal turbinates, red and puffy eyes, wheezing and an eczematous rash.
Diagnostic Testing
To correctly diagnose allergies of any type, we perform prick-puncture testing, intradermal testing, patch testing, and/or ImmunoCAP laboratory tests.
Treatment
Upon reviewing the medical history, physical exam, and diagnostic tests, our medical team will discuss the findings with you and determine an appropriate treatment plan, which will include allergen avoidance.
Allergy Testing
Allergy Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions About Allergies
Certain individuals have a genetic predisposition to develop allergies. However, environmental exposure also plays an important role in developing allergy symptoms.
Avoidance is the best way to treat allergies. If avoidance is not reasonable or does not result in a significant improvement, then medications and/or allergen immunotherapy are considered.
Yes, allergic triggers can result in varying symptoms. For example, in some individuals an allergy to dust mites might only cause allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and present with a runny nose, nasal congestion and itchy watery eyes. In other individuals, it might result in atopic dermatitis (eczema).
Allergy shots are considered for patients who meet the following criteria:
- Symptoms have a significant negative impact on quality of life
- Symptoms are not controlled with appropriate medications or patients have adverse effects from the medications
- Patient is unable to avoid the allergic trigger or despite avoidance, still has troubling symptoms
- Patient prefers not to be on medications
- Patient who experiences complications from their allergies such as chronic sinusitis, asthma or atopic dermatitis
Yes, adults can develop new allergies at any stage of life.
No, testing for everything is not recommended. Allergy testing is performed based on clinical history. In addition, there can be false positives on allergy skin and blood testing.
No. However, they do inherit the predisposition to inherit allergies in general.
