What is a Board-Certified Allergist?

Board certified allergists are specialists who have met the highest level of nationally-recognized standards for education and expertise in the field of allergy, asthma and immunology. This formal and lengthy education process is necessary to cultivate the expertise required to provide the highest-quality of care for patients with allergies and asthma. By achieving board certification, allergists demonstrate their commitment to excellence and expertise in their field, which translates to state-of-the-art, evidence-based care.

What are the Benefits of Seeing a Board Certified Allergist?

Board certification tells you that your doctor has attained the highest level of expertise to treat your health issues.

How do you find a Board-Certified Allergist?

When you start searching for an allergist/immunologist, it’s important to make sure you find a doctor you are comfortable with and you can trust. Search online for information about the doctors you are considering and ask people you trust for names of physicians they recommend. Then visit Certification Matters and enter your doctor’s name to determine if he or she is board-certified. This is a service that allows you to see if a specific doctor is certified.

Can you detect allergies through a blood test?

Yes. When you become allergic to an allergen, your body creates special antibodies to fight against it. These allergic antibodies are called IgE antibodies. IgE antibodies are formed in the bone marrow and travel in the bloodstream before being deposited in the skin and other tissues where they remain for weeks to months. Although allergy skin tests are considered the gold standard for allergy testing, blood testing can also be used to measure IgE antibodies circulating in your bloodstream

What types of tests are there for allergies?

There are three main ways to get tested for allergies: Skin Tests – Skin tests are commonly used to identify many potential allergens, including airborne, food-related, and contact allergens. Blood Tests – If you are not a candidate for an allergy skin test, your allergist may suggest a blood test. Elimination Diet – To detect which foods are causing an allergic reaction, your allergist may recommend an elimination diet. This involves removing certain foods from your diet and determining if you're symptoms improve, and then adding the food back to see if you have a reaction.

Do allergy tests hurt?

The skin prick or scratch test and intradermal test may cause slight discomfort. If you are sensitive to any of the allergens being tested, your skin may itch where the allergen was placed.

How can you treat non-life threatening allergic reactions at home?

The first step is to avoid the allergen if you know what triggers a reaction. But if an allergic reaction occurs, there are several ways to treat them at home: Antihistamines – Helps treat minor allergic reactions regardless of the cause. Anti-inflammatory Medication – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) can help temporarily reduce allergy symptoms. Saline Sinus Rinse – If your allergies cause sinus problems, it’s recommended to rinse your sinuses with saline to clear the allergens from your airways. Skin Allergy Treatments – If a skin allergy occurs, you can apply corticosteroid creams or calamine lotion to reduce symptoms, an ice pack can also help reduce inflammation and allergy symptoms.

How long does an allergy test take to administer?

Not very long. The skin prick and intradermal tests are performed in the allergist’s office and take about 20 minutes total. Your skin may start to show reactions to certain allergens such as foods, environmental allergens or insect venoms. Patch tests are used to identify if a chemical may be the cause of delayed skin rashes. The patches are applied and worn for about 48 hours and then removed. Blood tests results may take up to a week to return from the laboratory.

Are hay fever and allergic rhinitis the same thing?

Yes, allergic rhinitis is simply the proper medical term for hay fever. “Hay fever” is somewhat of a misnomer since allergic rhinitis is usually not caused by hay, nor does it result in a fever.

When is hay fever the worst in Jacksonville?

The mild temperatures in Northeast Florida mean that trees start producing spring pollen early in our area– in some years as soon as December. Unfortunately, the Jacksonville area does not really have a hay fever “off-season.” Our warm winters and early springs mean that allergic rhinitis sufferers may be exposed to pollen year-round.

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Medication and Allergies: Things Every Adult Patient Need to Be Concerned About

medication-allergies-adult-patients-need-to-know

It’s common for adults to take several prescriptions to support their health and well-being as they age. But sometimes an individual drug or a combination of them can cause harmful side effects, particularly in adults with allergies and asthma.

It’s important to inform your doctors, including your dentist and ophthalmologist, if you have asthma and allergies. In addition, the side effects of allergy medications may be tolerable for some people while causing greater reactions in other patients. Work with your doctor or your allergist to avoid taking medications which may trigger severe and even fatal reactions.

Learn More About Our Drug & Medication Allergy Treatments

Allergy Medications Adults Should Be Cautious Of

Allergy medications are known for their excellent safety profile. However, high doses of allergy relief medications can cause harmful side effects for those you are sensitive to them or when they are combined with certain medications. Be aware of the side effects of the following two types of allergy medications.

Antihistamines

An allergist may prescribe antihistamines for allergies including allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergy), allergic rhinitis (hay fever), or urticaria (hives).

Antihistamines can cause drowsiness, confusion, blurred vision, and reduced alertness in older adults which can lead to falls and injuries. Other side effects include constipation and urinary retention.

When feasible, the newer second and third generation antihistamines should be used. Unlike first generation antihistamines, these newer antihistamines do not typically cause drowsiness and have fewer overall side effects. Discuss your options with your primary physician or allergy specialist to make sure you’re getting the safest antihistamine.

Decongestants

Pseudoephedrine is a common over-the-counter decongestant sold individually or in combination with an antihistamine. Pseudoephedrine is typically the “-D” or decongestant component in many over the counter allergy medications. Pseudoephedrine is a stimulant and is notorious for causing increased blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and irregular heartbeat. Those with heart disease or hypertension should be very careful when taking over the counter nasal decongestants.

Medications Capable of Inducing Asthma-like Symptoms

Patients with asthma should be aware of the reactions of these types of drugs, which can trigger symptoms that mimic asthma.

ACE Inhibitors

Ace inhibitors treat hypertension, heart disease and kidney disease. These are usually well tolerated but can trigger a dry, repetitive cough in some people that is often confused for asthma. Interestingly, having a repetitive cough can worsen acid reflux which in turn can increase coughing and worsen asthma symptoms.

Aspirin and Other Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS)

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as naproxen, aspirin and ibuprofen can also trigger serious asthma symptoms in some asthmatic patients. This condition is known as ‘NSAID or aspirin associated respiratory disease.’ Those with known sensitivities to NSAIDs and aspirin should avoid these drugs as resulting asthma attacks can be severe and fatal. Aspirin-sensitive patients often tolerate acetaminophen and other prescribed pain relievers.

Beta-Blockers

Beta-blockers are often used for the treatment of migraines, high blood pressure, heart disease and glaucoma. This class of medications can be classified as cardio-selective and non-selective. Non-selective beta-blockers (propranolol) are often avoided in asthmatics due to the potential to provoke bronchoconstriction and jeopardize asthma control. Cardio-selective beta-blockers are thought to be a safer choice for asthmatics given their limited action in the lungs. Be sure to tell all your doctors that you have asthma, including your ophthalmologist, because beta-blockers can be in many types of medications, including eye drops.

At Allergy & Asthma Specialists of North Florida, our board-certified allergists specialize in complete allergy and asthma care for adults and children. Contact us today and schedule an appointment to learn if you’re taking the right allergy medications for your age and health needs.

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