What Does An Allergist Treat?

Allergists treat two of the nation's most common chronic health problems – allergies and asthma.

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Although symptoms may not always be severe, allergies andAsthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease characterized by recurrent breathing problems. People with asthma have acute episodes where the air passages in their lungs get narrower, and breathing becomes more difficult. Sometimes episodes of asthma are triggered by allergens, although infection, exercise, cold air and other factors are also important triggers." rel="tooltip">asthmaare diseases and should be treated that way. Many people with allergies and asthma simply don’t realize how much better they can feel.

Allergists are specially trained to help you take control of your allergies and asthma, so you can live the life you want. They find the source of your symptoms and provide the most effective treatment options.

Still struggling with allergy or asthma symptoms?

It’s time for an allergist.

Here are some of the conditions allergists treat:

Asthma and Frequent Cough

Asthmais a disease that affects the airways in your lungs, making them inflamed and swollen. TheInflammation is the redness, swelling, heat and pain in a tissue due to chemical or physical injury, or to infection. It is a characteristic of allergic reactions in the nose, lungs, and skin." rel="tooltip">inflammationmakes your airways more likely to be bothered by allergens or things like smoke, stress, exercise or cold air. Airway muscle spasms block the flow of air to your lungs, causing symptoms that may include difficulty breathing, a tight feeling in your chest, coughing and wheezing. Sometimes your only symptom is achronic cough, especially at night, after you exercise or when you are laughing. Sometimes asthma has only mild symptoms, but it can be life-threatening if you have an attack and stop breathing.

Hay Fever (AllergicRhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the nose, often due to an allergy to pollen, dust or other airborne substances. Seasonal allergic rhinitis also is known as "hay fever," a disorder which causes sneezing, itching, a runny nose and nasal congestion." rel="tooltip">鼻炎)

Hay feveris a common condition that causes symptoms such as sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, watery eyes and itching of your nose, eyes or the roof of your mouth. Allergic rhinitis can be seasonal or perennial, and each has different symptoms:

  • Seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms occur in spring, summer and/or early fall. They are usually caused by allergies to pollens from trees, grasses or weeds or to airborne mold spores.
  • People with perennial allergic rhinitis experience symptoms year-round. It is generally caused by sensitivity to house dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches and/or mold spores. Underlying or hidden food allergies rarely cause perennial nasal symptoms.

Eye Allergies

Allergic reactions in your eyes, called眼睛过敏or allergic conjunctivitis, result in itching, redness and burning. They are often caused by the sameAllergies are inappropriate or exaggerated reactions of the immune system to substances that, in the majority of people, cause no symptoms. Symptoms of the allergic diseases may be caused by exposure of the skin to a chemical, of the respiratory system to particles of dust or pollen (or other substances), or of the stomach and intestines to a particular food." rel="tooltip">allergytriggers that cause hay fever and can result in many of the same symptoms such as sneezing, sniffling and a stuffy nose. While many people treat their nasal allergy symptoms, they often ignore eye symptoms which can be treated effectively with medication orImmunotherapy is a form of preventive and anti-inflammatory treatment of allergy to substances such as pollens, house dust mites, fungi, and stinging insect venom. Immunotherapy involves giving gradually increasing doses of the substance, or allergen, to which the person is allergic. The incremental increases of the allergen cause the immune system to become less sensitive to the substance, perhaps by causing production of a particular "blocking" antibody, which reduces the symptoms of allergy when the substance is encountered in the future." rel="tooltip">immunotherapy.

皮肤过敏

Contact dermatitis,An inflammation of the skin, usually causing itching and sometimes accompanied by crusting, scaling or blisters. A type of eczema often made worse by allergen exposure is termed "atopic dermatitis."" rel="tooltip">eczemaand hives areskin reactionsthat can be caused by allergens and other irritants. Sometimes, your reaction can happen quickly. Other reactions may take hours or days, as in poison ivy. Common allergens can be medicines, insect stings, foods, animals and chemicals used at home or work. Your skin allergies may be worse under stress.

Food Allergies

Anallergic reaction to foodcan cause mild to serious symptoms. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps, indigestion, diarrhea, hives or other skin rashes, wheezing and coughing, headaches, runny or stuffy nose and sneezing. In extreme cases, food allergy can trigger a severe and life-threatening reaction calledanaphylaxis. Some mild symptoms may be caused by a food sensitivity rather than an allergic reaction. An allergist can help determine if it is a true allergic reaction. Shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts are the most common food allergies in adults. Milk, eggs, soy, wheat, shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts are the most common food allergies in children.

Anaphylaxis

An allergist can help you determine if you have a severe allergy – one that might result inanaphylaxis, and help you identify triggers. Anaphylaxis is a rare allergic reaction that affects many parts of your body at the same time. If not treated quickly, it can be fatal. The trigger may be an insect sting, a food (such as peanuts), the latex in rubber products or a medication. The most dangerous symptoms of anaphylaxis affect your breathing and/or cardiovascular system (heart and blood pressure). Symptoms can include some or all of the following:

  • Hives, itchiness and redness on the skin, lips, eyelids or other areas of the body
  • Wheezing or difficulty breathing
  • Swelling of your tongue, throat, nose and lips
  • Nausea, stomach cramping and vomiting or diarrhea
  • Dizziness and fainting or loss of consciousness, which can lead to shock and heart failure

Frequently these symptoms start suddenly without warning and rapidly get worse. At the first sign of anaphylaxis, you should get help immediately, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room. If you have been prescribedEpinephrine is a naturally occurring hormone, also called adrenaline. It is one of two chemicals (the other is norepinephrine) released by the adrenal gland. Epinephrine increases the speed and force of heart beats and thereby the work that can be done by the heart. It dilates the airways to improve breathing and narrows blood vessels in the skin and intestine so that an increased flow of blood reaches the muscles and allows them to cope with the demands of exercise. Epinephrine has been produced synthetically as a drug since 1900. It remains the drug of choice for treatment of anaphylaxis." rel="tooltip">epinephrine, you should use your epinephrine auto injector.

The sinuses (paranasal sinuses) are air cavities within the facial bones. They are lined by mucous membranes similar to those in other parts of the airways." rel="tooltip">Sinusinfections

窦我nfections, also calledSinusitis is inflammation of the membrane lining the facial sinuses, often caused by bacterial or viral infection." rel="tooltip">sinusitis, are common in people with nasal allergies such as hay fever. The constant stuffy and runny nose can inflame your nasal passages and make them swell. Symptoms include a runny nose with a thick discharge, cough and occasionally pain in your forehead, around and in between your eyes, in your upper jaw, cheeks and teeth. In some cases, sinusitis can be chronic and cause several infections a year. If you have asthma, you are more likely to have chronic sinus infections which can complicate your disease and make your symptoms more severe.