Allergies & Asthma

Allergies and asthma can occur separately or together, depending on your particular case. Asthma and allergies often occur together because they have similar triggers.

Allergies

When your immune system reacts abnormally to an ordinarily harmless substance, you have an allergy. Allergies can occur in response to the environment, medications, or foods. Your allergy symptoms depend on the nature and severity of your allergy. Some of the most common allergies result from exposure to pet dander, pollen, and mold.

Asthma

Asthma is an inflammatory condition that makes it difficult for you to breathe. It causes your airways to shrink because of specific triggers. Most of these triggers are also allergy triggers, such as pet dander, pollen, and mold.

Allergies can cause symptoms in your respiratory system, on your skin, or in your digestive tract. You might suspect allergies if you have:

• Sneezing
• Stuffy nose
• Runny nose
• Watery, red, and itchy eyes
• Skin rash or welts
• Mouth, lip, or tongue swelling
• Diarrhea or stomach upset in response to specific foods

Asthma’s primary symptom is difficulty breathing, but it may be accompanied by coughing, too. Other symptoms of asthma include chest tightness, chest pain, and wheezing.

Asthma symptoms usually flare-up in response to a specific trigger and then recede as your airways become less inflamed.

The providers at Family Medicine Clinic and Women’s Health perform a thorough physical exam, review your symptoms, and discuss your personal and family medical history. You will undergo a skin prick allergy test or lung function tests to determine the cause of your symptoms and get a diagnosis.

Your providers at Family Medicine Clinic and Women’s Health aim to provide symptom relief during your allergy or asthma attacks and prevent flare-ups whenever possible.

You’ll receive guidance on how to avoid allergy and asthma triggers. For allergies, you may need to take oral antihistamines to control your symptoms. Daily allergy medications can prevent symptoms, too.

Depending on the type and severity of your allergy, your provider may recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots). For life-threatening allergies that cause anaphylaxis, your provider prescribes you an epinephrine pen to carry with you in case of emergency exposure.

A rescue inhaler helps people with asthma stop asthma attacks as they’re happening. Depending on the nature of your asthma and its severity, you may also use a daily inhaler that delivers medication to prevent asthma attacks.

Your provider may recommend a nebulizer — a machine that delivers medication through a mask — for severe cases of asthma and flare-ups.

Get the allergy and asthma care you need by calling Family Medicine Clinic and Women’s Health to set up an appointment or use this website to book today.