Tag Archives: allergy profesional

Do I Need a Referral to See an Allergist?

When you are exploring allergy treatment options and using your insurance to pay for it, there is always the question, do I need a referral to see an allergist?

The answer to this question lies with your insurance company. Some insurance companies will require your primary care doctor to refer an allergy doctor, while others won’t need it—you can simply find your allergy specialist, and the insurance company will pay for it.

To avoid complications, later on, call the insurance company and ask about it. If your insurance plan requires you to get a referral, ask your primary care doctor to submit onel to the insurance company or the new doctor.

It’s after the doctor sends a referral and/or is approved by the insurance company that you can now see your new allergy specialist, and your treatment will be covered as per your insurance plan.

How do you see the new allergist?

After getting a referral, you should now begin the process of seeing the specialist. Begin with making an appointment by calling the office or filling an online form. Different doctors have different requirements for making appointments. Some will require you to make specific paperwork requests, while others won’t.

If there are chances that you will be tested for allergies, the doctor might ask you to refrain from eating or drinking anything for at least a day.

After getting an appointment, head to the doctor’s office on the agreed day. If the doctor was referred to you, chances are high they already have your medical records that they got from your primary care doctor.

Even if the doctor has your medical records, carry yours, such as your family medical history that the doctor might not have.

During the meeting, expect plenty of questions from the doctor. The questions are meant to help the doctor understand your condition better.

To get the most from the meeting, come prepared with your set of questions. Some of the best questions to ask include:

  • What can I expect from the test?
  • What can I expect from the treatment?
  • Is there anything I can change in my lifestyle or environment to prevent the allergy symptoms from coming about?
  • What tests are available to determine what is causing my allergic reaction?
  • Are there side effects to the medications?
  • It’s common for the allergy doctor to examine your lungs, throat, skin, and nose to determine your condition.

If the doctor diagnoses you with food allergies or airborne allergies, they most likely will run tests to determine the type of allergies you have.

It’s after the tests that the doctor will recommend treatment options, which might include:

  • Allergy shots
  • Prescription medications
  • Avoiding allergy triggers. For example, if you are allergic to pollen, you should stay indoors to avoid them.
  • Lifestyle changes such as avoiding foods that you might be allergic to. If you are allergic to nuts, the doctor might recommend you stay away from them.

How do you get the most from the allergist’s visit?

Obviously, you should ask as many questions as possible so that you can understand your condition better.

The other thing you should do is to follow the guidelines given by the allergy specialist Germantown MD. The last thing you should do is to spend a lot of money on the allergist then you don’t follow their expert tips. When they prescribe medication, take it as per the recommendation.

Finally, be your doctor. After all, you know your body better than anyone. If you take the medication and don’t see any meaningful progress, don’t sit back and wait for things to get better—get in touch with your allergist and schedule another meeting.

How to Help Allergies without Medicine

When you are suffering from seasonal allergies and other forms of allergies, it’s recommended that you visit an allergist and get some medication.

This is good, but there is one problem. What if you don’t like visiting a doctor or are in an area far away from a doctor? Does it mean you are doomed? Not at all. To help you out here is how to help allergies without medicine:

Take essential oils

Essential oils such as eucalyptus and peppermint oils are highly effective at relieving hay fever and associated symptoms. For the best outcome, use them in a room diffuser or combine them with coconut oil and massage them into your temples.

You can also use tree and lemon oils where you mix them with purified water, and a little vinegar, then spray them around your home. Inhaling these fumes relieves the symptoms.

Take vitamin C

Vitamin C is a known natural antihistamine, so it reduces the amount of histamine that your body produces in response to an allergen. When taken correctly, vitamin C is highly effective at reducing common allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and watery eyes.

While vitamin C might seem harmless, taking high doses of it can be lethal. To avoid the side effects that come with it, take a dose of 2,000 milligrams per day.

Use Himalaya salt lamps.

These salts effectively remove dust, dander, and other particles from the air, leaving you with less allergy and significantly reducing the coughing.

Try probiotics

Probiotics contain beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium longum that regulate the t-cells that produce a stronger immune response to the common allergens. Different probiotics work differently in different people, so you should research and find the ones that work the best on you.

Undertake saline nasal irrigation

A nasal rinse clears the mucus from your nose, and this significantly eases the allergy symptoms. When done right, the nasal rinse not only reduces the nasal drip, but also washes out the bacteria and other allergens you might have inhaled.

Stay away from beef

Studies show that people who take plenty of beef and dairy have high concentrations of trans oleic acid in their bodies, increasing their chances of developing hay fever symptoms. To fight off allergies during the allergy season, stay away from beef and dairy. Instead, take chicken and other meats that contain lower Trans oleic acids.

Take plenty of water.

Water, sugar-free juice, and other nonalcoholic beverages thin the mucus in your nasal passages, which comes in handy for allergy relief. Other drinks you can take to bring the condition under control include: warm tea, broth, and soup.

Inhale some steam

Inhaling steam eases a stubborn, stuffy nose, and you breathe easier. You don’t need to be fancy about how you go about it. Hold your head over a warm bowl or sink full of water, then place a towel over your head to trap the steam.

If this is too much trouble, turn on the water in the shower and stay there for a few minutes as you take a few deep breaths.

Wear a mask

The mask has become a commonplace with the covid-19 pandemic, but it has been a highly effective device for protecting you from developing allergy symptoms. The mask not only protects others from your cold and flu symptoms, but it also protects you from inhaling the allergens, so you don’t develop allergy symptoms. For the best results, allergy specialist doctor Manassas VA recommends you get an N95 mask.

How To Make Allergies Go Away Fast

Allergies are annoying. You sneeze, have a runny nose, eyes water, so you want out of this condition as soon as possible. The cool thing is it’s possible to do it. To help out, here are tips on how to make allergies go away fast, as given by allergy specialist:

Stay away from the trigger.

Do you know what is bringing about the allergies? You should stay away from it. If your condition is due to exposure to pollen, stay away from it. You can do this by staying indoors and working from home.

If you love exercising, do it in the early mornings or late in the evening when there isn’t much pollen in the air.

If you have to go outside during the peak pollen hours, ensure that you put on a mask to don’t inhale the pollen. When you come back to the house, take caution not to bring the pollen into the house. One way to do this is to remove your coat at the door.

Remember that you might be hiding from the pollen, but they still find you in the house. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, take measures to ensure that no pollen gets into the house.

One of the things you can do is to invest in a HEPA air filter. This filter traps most airborne allergens such as dust, pollen, and pet dander, so it keeps off most pollen and other irritants.

If you have the means, invest in an air purifier. Besides the purifier getting rid of the pollen, it can also clean the finer air particles and fumes.

Other ways you can ensure that the pollen doesn’t get into the house and you reduce your exposure as much as possible include:

  • Shut the windows and run an air filter
  • Vacuum the house twice a week, especially when the pollen count is high
  • Wash your clothes as soon as you come back after being outdoors
  • Wash your pillowcases, blankets, and sheets in hot or warm water every week or two
  • Keep the windows shut and run an air filter

Get allergy medication

If you do the above and still the symptoms aren’t receding, try taking the allergy medications. Some of the medications you can take include:

Antihistamines

From their name, antihistamines work by blocking “histamine,” a chemical released by the immune system. There are many antihistamine brands in the market, and it’s up to you to choose the one that works for you.

Nasal sprays

Nasal sprays often work well with antihistamines, where they work together at bringing down the inflammation in your nose and sinuses.

Decongestants

These are meant to relieve stuffiness, and like the other medications, they come in different brands, and it’s up to you to choose the best one.

While decongestants are highly effective, you should note that they come with various side effects, such as increased heart rate, high blood pressure, insomnia, and irritability. Due to their many side effects, decongestants are ideal for use in the short term.

Try natural remedies

Don’t like the idea of taking medications? You can always try natural remedies. Some of the best remedies include:

Sinus rinses: From its name, this is where you rinse your sinus, and by so doing, you flush out gunk and allergens hence reducing swelling and easing the symptoms.

Acupuncture: With acupuncture, tiny needles are placed under your skin, which corrects the imbalances in the body.

Some doctors believe that acupuncture decreases inflammation, a major factor in an allergic response.

To be on the safe side, before you go for the method, talk to your allergy doctor Manassa VA and find out whether acupuncture will be valuable to you.