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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Thomas Lupoli, D.O.

Exercise-Induced Asthma: Not Just an Excuse to Skip a Workout!

Exercise-Induced Asthma symptoms and treatment plans

Exercise is important for everyone (including people with asthma) to maintain a strong, healthy body. Regular exercise is one of the body’s strongest defenses against disease. Yet people with asthma can often experience asthma episodes when they exercise.

Don’t let your asthma be an excuse to skip a workout. With proper prevention and management, you should be able to exercise without asthma symptoms.

What Is Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (Asthma)?

Exercise can cause shortness of breath for anyone. But for some people, the airways in the lungs abruptly narrow in response to strenuous exercise and this called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), commonly known as exercise-induced asthma. Nearly 90% of people who suffer from asthma will experience EIB during exercise, but not everyone with EIB has asthma.

Symptoms of exercise induced bronchospasm include the following during exercise:

Shortness of breath
Wheezing and coughing
Tightness in chest
Decreased endurance

Symptoms usually begin during exercise and can get worse 5-10 minutes into your workout. The symptoms can range from mild to severe and typically resolve within 20-30 minutes with rest.

What Causes EIB?

When you exercise, your breath deepens and you breathe faster because your body needs more oxygen. It’s common to inhale through your mouth drawing in dry or cool air, the main trigger for narrowing airways. When you’re exposed to cold, dry air during exercise, you’re more likely to develop asthma symptoms than you would with warm, humid air. Other triggers can include high pollen levels and other airborne irritants such as smoke or strong fumes.

How to Diagnose EIB

An allergist can help determine whether your symptoms are induced by exercise alone or if you are reacting to other irritants or allergens in the air. During the examination, your allergist will ask questions about your history including if any relatives have asthma. Your doctor may have you do a series of tests to measure your breathing and lung function before, during, and after exercise.

Treatment and Management of EIB

After a diagnosis, your doctor will help you create a plan to prevent asthma symptoms during physical activity. They will also inform you of what to do if you experience an asthma episode during exercise.

Proper management of EIB may include:

Preventing symptoms by covering your nose and mouth with a scarf when exercising in cold, dry weather
Taking medication recommended by your doctor before exercising
Doing a proper warm-up for up to 10 minutes before vigorous activity
Watching your respiratory status before, during, and after exercise

If your children have EIB, be sure to inform teachers and coaches. Most children can still participate in activities but may need to take medication beforehand.

Consult with your allergist or health provider before starting an exercise program. With proper management, you can still perform well and excel in a variety of sports.

Activities likely to trigger EIB:

Skiing
Ice skating
Ice hockey
Snowboarding
Soccer
Long distance running

Activities that may be less likely to trigger EIB:

Volleyball
Baseball
Gymnastics
Walking
Hiking
Swimming in warm water

Common Medications for EIB

Your allergist may prescribe one of the following types of medications to prevent exercise-induced asthma.

Short-acting beta-agonists / bronchodilator: When taken 10-15 minutes before exercise, this medication can prevent symptoms. This can also treat symptoms of EIB if they occur.
Long-acting beta-agonists / bronchodilator: This medication only prevents symptoms and does not offer quick relief once symptoms start. It must be taken 30-60 minutes before an activity and can only be used once in a 12-hour period. It can help prevent EIB symptoms for 10-12 hours.
Leukotriene inhibitor: This medication is a pill and is typically taken at least 2 hours before exercise and is effective at preventing EIB symptoms for up to 24 hours. There is some evidence that this medication may be more effective than long acting bronchodilators for prevention of EIB symptoms.

If you or your child have EIB, don’t let this keep you from enjoying exercise. Consult with an allergist at The Allergy and Asthma Specialists of North Florida to begin a treatment plan.

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