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.

Sinusitis and Asthma: What’s the Connection?

sinusitis & asthma connection jacksonville allergy specialists

Sinusitis and asthma symptoms may be connected. Nearly half of individuals with moderate to severe asthma also experience sinusitis. Experiencing sinusitis on top of asthma can be difficult to manage when the symptoms leave you feeling sick and miserable. If left untreated, symptoms can worsen and even result in more severe cases of asthma.

If you’ve experienced a combination of sinusitis and asthma, you’re not alone. Learn more about the link between these two conditions and how to treat them.

What Is Sinusitis?

When the lining of your sinuses (the small cavities around the nose) become inflamed, this is referred to as sinusitis. As your sinuses become inflamed, they can fill with mucus and the drainage tracts can become blocked.

Common sinusitis symptoms include:

Headache
Pain where the sinuses are located (cheeks, forehead, top of the nose)
Blocked nose
Loss of smell
Green or yellow mucus coming from the nose
Toothache-like pain
Fever

The condition can last for days-to-weeks (acute sinusitis) or for three months or more (chronic sinusitis). Acute or chronic sinusitis can be caused by allergies, viral infections of the upper respiratory tract, bacterial infections, fungal infections, smoking, or a compromised immune system.

What Is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease causing inflammation in the airways. An asthma flare-up or asthma attack can happen at any time. While mild symptoms may only last a few minutes, severe symptoms can last for hours or days.

Common asthmatic symptoms include:

Coughing
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Rapid breathing
Tight chest

The Link Between Sinusitis and Asthma or Allergies

According the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, there is a link between chronic sinusitis and asthma in some people. Both asthma and sinusitis may be triggered by inflammation to an allergen or irritant. In addition, postnasal drip caused by sinusitis may trigger coughing arising from the throat which can aggravate asthma symptoms.

Additionally sinusitis has been associated with more severe cases of asthma. So having asthma increases the odds of getting a sinus infection, and a sinus infection can make your asthma harder to control.

Chronic sinusitis can sometimes be associated with allergic conditions such as hay fever. An allergic response can cause drainage channels to become blocked and result in an infection or inflammation in the sinuses.

How Are Sinusitis and Asthma Treated?

Treatment for sinusitis can depend on whether the condition is acute or chronic and the root cause. Acute symptoms due to a viral infection typically go away on their own within a couple of weeks. Decongestant and other over-the-counter medications can help clear the airways and offer relief of headaches. If symptoms persist after 10 days, it’s best to see your doctor.

If your doctor suspects a bacterial infection, you may be prescribed antibiotics to clear the infection and reduce the inflammation.

An allergy specialist can help determine if you have underlying allergies or asthma that may be contributing to your symptoms. Allergists can also assist by developing a better management plan for your asthma, including preventive treatment, can help reduce inflammation and persistent symptoms. Work with your asthma specialist to develop a treatment plan to prevent and reduce asthma and sinusitis symptoms.

Don’t let sinusitis or asthma get the best of you. Contact the Allergy & Asthma Specialists of North Florida to schedule an appointment and develop an effective treatment plan.

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