Allergies

Allergies are a common health problem that can affect anyone regardless of age or gender. An allergic reaction begins when your immune system treats a normally harmless substance as a dangerous invader. When exposed, your body produces antibodies in an exaggerated response, to the allergen.

Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe when these antibodies release chemicals such as histamines that cause allergy symptoms. While most allergies cannot be cured, there are treatment options available to help relieve your allergy symptoms. If you suffer from allergy symptoms, we can help. River Bend Medical Associates doctors and nurses have years of experience treating all sorts of allergies in patients of all ages.

For some people, allergies are something they experience on a seasonal basis. Perennial allergies can occur year-round. For others, allergies can happen at unexpected times when they are exposed to an allergen that they eat, touch, or breathe in.

Whether you have seasonal allergies, food allergies, mold allergies, or other allergies, we can help.  At River Bend Medical Associates, we provide treatment for children and adults.  If you need to get control of your allergies, contact our family practice for an allergy evaluation today.

What are the Most Common Allergies?

Many different substances can cause an allergic reaction, some of the most common include:

Pollen – All types of pollen from grass, trees, or weeds can create an allergic reaction in many people. Pollen is one of the principal causes of hay fever (allergic rhinitis). 

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes.

Mold – Inhaling mold spores can cause an allergic reaction that includes wheezing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, and coughing. Mold is a common indoor allergen, but is hard to avoid because it can also be found outdoors. It is especially important to control mold allergies, as mold sensitivity is also a risk factor for developing respiratory diseases such as asthma.

Dust Mites – These tiny insects exist on every continent except Antarctica. Dust mites are commonly found in the dust in your home. An allergic reaction to dust mites can create itchy skin, itchy red eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and cough.

Animal Dander – We are typically exposed to animal dander by pets like cats or dogs. Inhaling pet dander can trigger sneezing, wheezing, and itching. Physical contact with animal dander or saliva can cause a skin rash (contact dermatitis) or hives. Exposure to animal dander can also trigger a person’s asthma.

Food – Many foods can trigger an allergic reaction, but according to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, eight foods account for 90% of food allergies. Including Milk, eggs, fish, tree nuts, shellfish, soy, wheat, and peanuts. Food allergy symptoms include digestive issues, hives, mouth swelling, or swollen airways.  

Severe allergic reactions can be life-threatening. If you are experiencing a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), call 911 or seek emergency medical care immediately.

What Can I Do About My Allergies?

Did you know that allergies can develop throughout your life? This means that even if you weren’t born with an allergy to animal dander, as an adult you may discover that you are now highly allergic to cats. 

If you experience a reaction to something in your environment, but you don’t know the cause, you may worry about having another reaction. Allergy testing and evaluation can help a doctor diagnose the cause of your allergic reaction and create a treatment and prevention plan.

To diagnose your allergy, your primary care physician may perform a physical exam and ask you detailed questions about the symptoms you have experienced. They may also perform a skin test.  During this test, the doctor will expose a tiny area of your skin to potential allergens and then carefully monitor the reaction.  In addition, it may be necessary to perform an allergy blood test.

Whether you have recently experienced new allergy symptoms, or have been suffering from allergies for a long time without proper diagnoses, our family doctors can help you find the medical relief you deserve.  

Allergy Treatments

Proper diagnoses of your allergies, and knowing what type of allergy you have, is an important first step in finding the right allergy treatment.

The best way to diminish your allergy symptoms is by avoiding triggers such as pollen and pet dander. 

If you have a food or drug allergy, you should try to avoid those foods and medications. Avoiding triggers can prevent exposure and reduce your chances of suffering from an allergic reaction.

You can treat allergy symptoms with over-the-counter and prescription medications, as well as allergy shots. 

Lifestyle changes like using air filters and avoiding triggers are important too.

Currently, there is no cure for allergies, and living with allergies can be challenging, but there are several preventative measures and treatment options that can help minimize your allergy symptoms.

Managing Your Allergies May Include:

Avoidance & Environment Modification – Typically the primary approach to preventing allergic reactions is to avoid the allergens that trigger symptoms. You may need to make some lifestyle changes or modify your environment to avoid certain allergens. For example, if you have hay fever you may wish to shut your windows and use an air filtration system in your home.

Antihistamines – These medications are available in both over-the-counter and prescription formulas. 

These drugs decrease the release of histamines, which is a chemical released by the body’s immune system during an allergic reaction. Antihistamines can help decrease symptoms like runny nose, itching, and sneezing.

Anti-inflammatory nasal sprays– These can help reduce the swelling inside your nose to make you feel more comfortable.

Decongestants – These drugs in pill or liquid form, help by making the blood vessels in the nose smaller, thereby decreasing nasal congestion.

Corticosteroids – Available by prescription only, these medications work by reducing inflammation caused by allergic reactions. Topical steroid creams are also available for the treatment of allergic conditions of the skin. 

Inhaled or oral doses of steroids may be prescribed for managing severe allergies or for people with asthma.

Anti-leukotrienes – These are used to block the production or effects of the chemical involved in causing the inflammation associated with allergies.  

Allergy Shots – If you suffer from serious allergy symptoms that are not helped by making changes to your environment or medications, your doctor may recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots). The purpose of these customized injections is to push your immune system to build up a tolerance to the allergen, causing your allergy symptoms to decrease over time. This build-up phase generally consists of shots given one to three times per week for around three to six months. After the build-up phase, shots generally continue monthly for three to five years. While these shots do not cure allergies, they can be effective in reducing or even eliminating some allergy symptoms.

Treatment for Food Allergies – After seeing a doctor to determine which foods cause an allergic reaction, it is important to avoid these foods and other similar foods in that food group. 

Currently, no drugs are available to prevent food allergies. Avoiding the food that you are allergic to is the only way to prevent a reaction.

Allergies occur when your immune system has an exaggerated response to an ordinarily harmless substance. 

Allergies affect millions of Americans each year. Allergic reactions can be triggered by many substances including pollen, dander, dust mites, mold, certain foods, or drugs. 

Depending on the type and severity of an allergy, symptoms can vary, common symptoms include sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, watery or itchy eyes, skin rashes, stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, swelling, and hives.

Some allergies can cause a serious reaction called anaphylaxis. This reaction is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Anaphylaxis can happen seconds or minutes after exposure to an allergen and can cause your body to go into shock. If you are experiencing a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), call 911 or seek emergency medical care immediately.

Currently, no cure is available for allergies But, after evaluation, testing, and diagnoses of your allergic condition, your doctor can help you manage your allergies and find relief from allergy symptoms.  

Strategies to keep your allergies under control may involve avoiding things that trigger allergic reactions, environmental changes, over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, or allergy shots.