Monthly Archives: January 2018

What to expect when you visit an Allergist

An allergy is a reaction towards specific food, drugs and environmental factors that otherwise do not affect. The reaction can be mild or severe; it’s, therefore, essential to see an allergist who will determine the extent of the allergy. An allergist specialist diagnoses and treats allergies. In the United States, the allergist should have a specialty in allergy treatment, more than five years of training in medicine and a board certification which requires one to pass a particular exam. The allergy doctor has to attend education programs continually to keep abreast of any new developments

Why visit an allergist instead of a general physician

  • Specialist

When Most people experience that first itch or several bumps on their body, they will visit their general physician, but an allergy doctor will give you the specific care that you require. The allergist has specialized training in dealing with allergies making it more palatable to visit the allergy doctor.

  • Expertise

The allergy doctor has specially trained in areas of allergy, and therefore there is no second guessing when it comes to treatment

When To See an Allergist

  • When you have an allergic reaction to food, insect bites, medicine
  • If your allergies are interfering with your daily life
  • In case you notice symptoms of allergy disease like asthma
  • See the allergy physician if you need assistance to come up with an action plan on how to cope with allergies
  • Increase in allergic reactions
  • In case you notice your child has a consistent cough
  • If you feel you are struggling to catch your breath

Questions the allergist will ask when you visit

  • The doctor will ask question concerning
  • When you noticed the first symptoms, any medication you may have taken, and whether there was any improvement
  • Do you have a history of any allergy symptoms
  • Do you have rashes or bumps on your body
  • Any history of allergic disease like asthma in your family
  • At what time is the allergic reaction more prevalent

Steps the allergist is likely to take after check up

  • Identify the allergen

The allergist will identify the allergen and suggest ways of avoiding coming into contact.

  • Treatment

The doctor will prescribe medicine if the allergic reaction is severe.

  • Management Plan

The doctor will help you come up with a plan on how to ease the effects of various allergens.

Finally

Make sure you visit the allergy doctor Gainesville VA  as soon as the first sign of allergy appears to avoid overuse of medication. That will also ensure that you catch the symptoms before they can become severe.

How to Manage Asthma and Reduce Chances of an Asthma Attack

Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the airways of the lungs. Asthma has several signs which include wheezing, Coughing, Chest congestion and breath shortness. The disease sometimes results in episodes which are mild, moderate or severe and cause more mucous production reducing the size of airwaves further. It’s critical to seek asthma treatments if you experience any of the signs

Types of Asthma

  • Nocturnal Asthma

It results from allergen mainly in the homes or sinuses and occurs between midnight and 7 am.

  • Occupational Asthma

Occupational asthma result from allergens in the workplace which include dust, chemicals, dust, and fumes.

  • A cough induced asthma

Results from a cough and can occur any time of the night

  • Exercise-Induced Asthma

Coughing during an exercise could result in breathing difficulties an indication of asthma.

  • Childhood Asthma

The asthma results from a reaction to allergen present in the living environment.

Asthma results from environmental and genetic factors, and it’s crucial to visit an asthma doctor to promptly to ensure that you treat the signs before they deteriorate and become fatal. Environmental factors include dust, pollen, and other allergens.

Treatment of Asthma

Asthma treatment is either short-term and long-term treatment. Short-term treatment works for milder cases of asthma while long-term treatment involves taking medication daily for a given period to treat severe cases of asthma. Short-term medication includes anticholinergic and adrenergic agonist while long-term medicines comprise of corticosteroids and long-acting beta agonist.

Asthma Management

It’s paramount to manage asthma to avoid long-term effects of the medicine and lessen the visits to the doctor. There are several steps to take to control the disease;

  • Quit smoking

Smoking will cause a spike in allergic reactions, and it’s therefore highly advisable to quit the habit.

  • Know what triggers your asthma

It’s necessary to understand your body and what allergens it’s reacting to, after which you should avoid coming into contact with the allergens

  • Take medication given by the Asthma doctor and avoid self-prescription.
  • Alert your doctor if after taking the medications there is no change.

Action Plan in case of an Asthma Attack

  • Ensure airwaves don’t constrict by sitting upright
  • Take long deep breaths
  • Move away from the triggers
  • Take a hot beverage
  • If the wheezing does not subside, see an asthma doctor
Living with Asthma
  • Educating your family and the people near you

It’s crucial to understand your asthmatic condition, but it’s even more critical that the people around you have knowledge of your asthmatic situation and how they can help in case of emergency. Make sure you share with your family the action plan in case of attack.

  • Following the medical plan consistently

Ensure you follow the medical as shared by the asthma doctor maryland to reduce the chances of an asthma attack.

How to Manage Hives and Skin allergy

eczema and skin allergies

Hives and skin allergy is medically known as urticaria present in form of swollen bumps on the skin that appear instantly as a result of an allergen on the skin or in the body. The bumps will vary in size and will from a few hours to a day. Urticaria affects around 21% of the population at one point in their lives. Hives and skin allergy result from a number of allergens which include;

  • Chemicals in food
  • insect stings,
  • exposure to sunlight
  • certain medications
  • Viral and Bacterial Infections
  • Stress
  • Chronic illness
  • Other factors

Hives are either acute or chronic depending on the amount of time they take to clear off. Acute hives will normally resolve on their own, but chronic cases take more than 6 weeks to clear off and may result in dizziness, breathing difficulties and swelling of the body parts like the face. In case its chronic urticaria it’s paramount to consult a physician immediately to lessen the effects of the allergy.

Types of hives

Acute Urticaria is the most common and last less than six weeks. It mainly results from food, medicine, and insect bites.

Physical Urticaria which results from physical contact with the allergen. Exposure to the sun, pressure on the skin are among the causes of this kind of urticaria

Chronic Urticaria lasts more than one month and its most commonly associated with thyroid diseases, hormonal problems, and cancer.

Treatment and Management of hives and skin allergy

One of the most important steps in curtailing the effect of the allergy is being able to identify the triggers and avoiding them. Visit the allergy physician if the allergic reaction continues for more than 6 weeks as this is considered chronic. Milder and less serious cases can be managed through simple home remedies as below;

  • Bathing with anti-itch products

Soaking in a bath with the itch products will relieve the itching

  • Wear loose clothing

Wear clothing that is not tight fitting to ease up the itching feeling and any irritation. Ensure that the clothes don’t irritate the skin further. Heat increases the urge to itch so it’s advisable to wear lighter clothes.

  • Apply a cold compress

Use a towel wrapped in ice to relieve the itchy feeling

If the above home remedies don’t reduce the allergic reactions consider taking antihistamines or combination of medication as prescribed by the physician.

Diagnosis of Urticaria

Once you visit the allergy physician Manassas  depending on your medical history the doctor may order a blood test, stool test, thyroid function test and liver test to ascertain the exact cause of the disease. Milder cases may not require testing as the physician will ask a question to identify the allergen.

What to avoid in case you have hives

  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Stress