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Allergy and Immunology / Wellness & Diagnostic Services
A Wellness Approach
Most people think of seeing their doctor only
when they are sick or have an allergic reaction or asthma flare-up.
We believe our patients should have regular check-ups even when
they are 
feeling
well. We don’t treat just your allergy or asthma symptoms.
We work with you to manage your overall wellness, as the best
preventative medicine. Fine-tuning your wellness plan during each
check-up assures better control of your condition, and helps prevent
serious flare-ups.
Our specialized services include:
- Allergy testing and treatment
- Allergy desensitization therapy (“allergy shots”)
- Asthma diagnosis and treatment
- Immunodeficiency evaluations
- Pulmonary function testing
- Patient education and support
Allergy Testing and Treatment
We need to identify the allergens responsible for your symptoms
in order to decide on a treatment plan that will be successful.
We will develop a case history of your symptoms, lifestyle habits,
and medical and family background. You will need to answer many
questions to help us understand what triggers your symptoms. Based
on your case history, your doctor will decide what tests, if any
will be carried out. Depending on the severity of your sensitivity
to certain allergens, your doctor will work with you to determine
the best treatment option that fits your needs and lifestyle.
Allergy
Desensitization Therapy
This therapy stimulates the immune system by introducing gradually
increasing doses of the substances you are allergic to into your
system. The goal is to change the way your body reacts to those
allergens. This immunotherapy, usually administered by injection
(“allergy shots”) is very effective for treating allergies
to pollen, mites, stinging insects (e.g., bees, hornets, yellow
jackets, wasps, velvet ants, fire ants) and cats. Allergy desensitization
therapy may take up to one year to become effective and injections
may be required for 3-5 years.
Asthma
Diagnosis and Treatment
Our doctors will determine if you have asthma, and its severity,
based on your symptoms and further test results. He/she will work
with you to develop a treatment plan with these goals:
- Fewer or no asthma symptoms
- Sleeping through the night
- Exercise without asthma symptoms
- Use "relief" medicine (short-acting bronchodillators) minimally
- No side effects from asthma medicine
- Peak flow measurements within 20% variation
- No emergency room visits or hospitalizations due to asthma
- No time off from work or school due to asthma
Regular wellness visits are part of your treatment program, to fine-tune your treatment and prevent flare-ups of your condition.
Immunodeficiency
Evaluations
When the immune system does not work properly, a person is more
likely to suffer from frequent and longer lasting infections.
A simple sore throat or cold for someone with immunodeficiency
disorders will often lead to severe or frequent bacterial infections,
most commonly bronchitis, sinusitis, and ear infections (otitis).
Our specialists provide comprehensive evaluations for children
and adults.
Pulmonary Function
Testing
We monitor the lung capacity of our asthma patients very carefully.
We measure:
- How much air volume can be moved in and out of the lungs
- How fast the air in the lungs can be moved in and out
- How elastic are the lungs and chest wall
- How the lung membranes allow gas to move through
- How the lungs are responding to medication
Patient Education
and Support
The more you know about your condition, the better you can manage
and control it. Our highly trained staff guide patients through
each clinic visit, and provide coaching and resources needed for
staying healthy. We encourage you to call when you have medical
questions or are worried about your condition. We will also take
the time to discuss your concerns during any clinic visit and
provide the information you need.
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