Asthma can be one of the most intense conditions for a person to have. The feeling of being unable to breathe is scary, but there is help out there. Often times, people do not think to turn to anyone but their family doctor for help, but this can be a mistake. For some people, turning to a pulmonologist is necessary, especially in severe cases. For most other needs, though, an allergist may be the ideal doctor to choose.
Allergists treat both asthma and allergies. These doctors specialize in the diagnosis as well as the treatment of these conditions. They also treat other types of allergic disease. Why these professionals? They have specialized skills to identify not just that you have asthma, but also what factors trigger an episode. For many people with asthma, there are various triggers that can lead to an episode, such as exposure to a chemical or a food. By better understanding the underlying cause, these doctors can help individuals to understand how to prevent worsening of symptoms.
Many people do not realize that allergists will spend at least three years working in residency training programs in the focus of either pediatrics or medicine. Then, they work for an additional three years in the field of immunology and allergy. This is some of the most advanced education possible. For those who want to work in this field, there is also the need to be certified for the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.
There are many reasons to turn to an allergist for help with asthma. If you have just been diagnosed with the condition, working with these professionals can help to learn what potential triggers exist. If you are struggling to remain symptom free, these doctors can also help. In addition to this, it is also a good idea to turn to these professionals for more advanced treatment especially if your condition worsens over time.
When you have asthma, it is important to take steps to minimize the risks and improve your day to day health. By working with an allergist, you can accomplish this while also improve your chances of minimizing symptoms and the impact it has on your life and activities. To learn more about your care, visit an allergist in New York City. Call our offices to schedule an appointment.
Anyone who suffers from severe allergy knows how life limiting it can become. A severe allergy attack can also become as serious as to feel the need to call in emergency medical assistance. Allergies also come in different types and forms and while there are many choices of treatment, one of them is of allergy shots.
While there are other treatments available to control allergies as well, your allergist may recommend allergy shots if no medication affects your allergy symptoms positively, if the medication causes side effects, or interferes with other medications you take, if you are allergic to insect stings or if you want to reduce the use of medications in the long run.
How Do Allergy Shots Help?
Allergy shots are affective in case if you have seasonal, indoor or insect sting allergies. Also known as “immunotherapy”, the shot contains a small amount of the allergen that triggers your condition so that the body may get used to it. Allergy shots aren’t a cure for your allergy but help the immune system adapt to the allergen so that it stops seeing it as a virus. Thus, these shots helps reduce the symptoms and severity of the allergy over time.
Allergy shots are given once or twice a week for a few months initially and contain the allergen you are allergic to, such as pollen, dust or mold. After the few months have passed, the dose is gradually enhanced until it reaches the level of maintenance dose. Once that level is reached, a shot is given every 2-4 weeks for a period of 4-5 months. Gradually, the time between shots is increased until you receive them only once a month. During this time, you should experience a decline in your allergy symptoms and greater tolerance for the allergen which caused you allergy in the first place.
You may be required to stay at your allergist’s office for 30 minutes after receiving the shot in order to ensure that there are no side effects of the allergy. However, if you still suffer from the same allergy symptoms, you should check in at the nearest emergency center.
After getting the allergy shots, you may experience some common symptoms such as irritation, redness or swelling in the area where the injection was inserted. These symptoms usually only last for 4 to 8 hours.
It is very important to pay attention to your allergy symptoms and seek the right treatment for it. If medications don’t help, you might want to consult a NYC allergist and get allergy shots as they have been found to be an effective treatment for most people. The process may be longer but it will help develop endurance in your body for the allergen. To schedule an appointment with one of the best NYC allergists, contact us at 212-319-5282 today.
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