How can Doctors help treat Allergies?

Allergies are your immune system's response to foreign substances, such as specific food, pollens, pet dander, etc. Sometimes, your immune system produces antibodies when coming in contact with substances it considers harmful, even if they are not. When exposed to these allergens, your immune system can inflame your skin, sinuses, airways, etc. You can visit a family clinic Nashville to treat your allergies effectively in such cases. This blog will discuss the various medical procedures your doctor might use to treat allergies.

Symptoms of Allergies

The allergy symptoms can vary among patients. While some might experience milder symptoms, others may develop anaphylaxis – a life-threatening condition. With proper treatment, doctors can help relieve your allergy symptoms. Before getting into the details of different treatment procedures for allergies, let’s discuss the various allergy symptoms.

Your allergy symptoms will depend on the types of allergens exposed to.

·         Hay Fever or allergic rhinitis causes sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, red, swollen, or watery eyes, itching of nose, eyes, etc.

·       Allergies from insect stings can cause edema at the sting site, cough, wheezing or shortness of breath, itching all over the body, etc.

·         Food allergies can cause hives, swelling of the lips or tongue, tingling in the mouth, etc.

·         Drug allergies can cause rashes, wheezing, itchy skin, etc.

Allergies from insect stings, food, etc., can cause severe reactions such as anaphylaxis. It is a life-threatening medical condition that sends patients t shock. Patients can experience the following symptoms -

·         Low blood pressure

·         Loss of consciousness

·         Skin rashes

·         Severe shortness of breath

·         Dizziness

·         Nausea and vomiting

Diagnosis of Allergies

Proper diagnosis of allergies is critical to offering appropriate treatment. Your doctors at a medical clinic inNashville might perform physical exams and ask you in length about signs and symptoms. They might also ask you to keep a record of your symptoms and possible triggers. In addition, they may perform the following tests to diagnose allergies.

Skin test – A healthcare professional will prick your skin and expose it to small amounts of proteins in potential allergens during this procedure. Patients who are allergic to the substances might develop a bump in the skin area where the doctors have performed the test.

Blood Test – Radioallergosorbent test or RAST helps measure the levels of immunoglobulin E antibodies in your bloodstream. These are allergy-causing antibodies. Healthcare professionals sent your blood sample for further testing to diagnose sensitivity to possible allergens.

Treatment of allergies

Now that you understand the possible symptoms of allergies and how doctors can diagnose the, let’s discuss the various treatment methods. Your doctors at a sierra family healthcare clinicmight use the following treatment procedures for allergies.

Avoid triggers

Your doctor will ask you to take steps to identify allergy triggers and avoid them. It can help prevent the development of allergy symptoms.

Medications

Your physicians might recommend the following medications for allergies based on your symptoms.

·         Antihistamines – These medications can help prevent allergic reactions.

·         Decongestants – They help relieve a blocked nose that may develop due to exposure to allergens.

·         Topical lotions and creams – Certain allergies can cause rashes and itchiness. Your doctors might recommend various topical creams and lotions to relieve the symptoms in such cases.

·         Steroids – Doctors might also prescribe steroids to reduce inflammation caused due to allergies. Usually, you will find steroids in creams, nasal sprays, tablets, and eye drops.

Immunotherapy

If other treatments couldn't relieve your allergy symptoms, your doctor might prescribe allergen immunotherapy. It involves injecting purified allergen extracts over a while.

Further, doctors might also recommend sublingual drugs to treat certain pollen allergies.

Emergency Epinephrine

If you suffer from severe allergies, your doctor might suggest carrying emergency epinephrine shot always. This shot can reduce severe allergic reactions till you receive emergency medical treatment.

Therefore, consult your physicians at a family practice Nashville, TN, for the needed treatment regardless of mild or severe allergic symptoms. Your healthcare providers will offer appropriate treatment accordingly based on the allergen responsible for causing allergic reactions.