Allergies and Asthma Specialist

What are allergies and asthma?

Allergies and asthma are two chronic medical conditions that often occur together and can cause symptoms severe enough to interfere with your quality of life.

Allergies

Allergies are an overreaction of your immune system to substances not generally considered harmful. Contact with these substances, called allergens, causes your body to produce antibodies that trigger symptoms like nasal congestion, sneezing, and itchy eyes.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung condition, meaning it’ll be with you for the long haul. It causes sudden airway inflammation that makes it difficult to breathe. During an asthma attack, your lungs produce excess mucus, further restricting your breathing.

Many substances in your environment can trigger both allergy and asthma attacks. These include:

• Dust
• Pollen
• Pet dander
• Insect bites

Because you can develop serious health complications from allergies and asthma, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Lakepointe Direct Primary Care if you have symptoms of either condition.

How are allergies and asthma diagnosed?

To identify what’s causing your allergies, the team at Lakepointe Direct Primary Care offers on-site allergy testing. During your testing, the team pricks your skin with small amounts of common allergens. If a welt forms, you have an allergy to that particular substance.

If you suffer shortness of breath, chest pain, or other asthma symptoms, the team can measure how much air you can move in and out of your lungs using spirometry testing. This procedure requires you to blow into a tube as hard as possible to evaluate your lung performance.

Based on your diagnostic test results, the team creates a treatment plan to help you manage your allergy and asthma symptoms more efficiently.

How are allergies and asthma treated?

Allergies and asthma are treatable with medications and lifestyle changes.

The Lakepointe Direct Primary Care team can recommend over-the-counter or prescription allergy medications that reduce symptoms like sneezing and nasal drainage.

They also use immunotherapy (allergy shots) to reduce your body’s reaction to known allergens. This treatment involves a series of shots over several months or years to prevent allergy symptoms from developing.

To treat asthma, the team can prescribe medications you inhale to reduce airway inflammation. You can also benefit from oral medications that stop asthma attacks from happening. The team will recommend lifestyle changes that help you avoid your asthma and allergy triggers.

Call Lakepointe Direct Primary Care today or book an appointment online to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for allergies and asthma.