What are allergies?
Allergies are your body’s overreaction to generally harmless substances that the body perceives as harmful. When you come into contact with these substances, known as allergens, your immune system fights back, triggering a number of responses in your body.
Common allergens include:
- Mood
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Insect bites
For some, food substances like dairy, nuts, and grains, can cause an allergic reaction. Others may experience persistent allergy symptoms during certain times of the year, especially during spring and summer, when pollen counts are high and flowers are in bloom.
What are the symptoms of allergies?
Seasonal allergies triggered by pollen and other substances in the environment can cause symptoms like:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Itchy eyes
You may experience nausea, vomiting, or develop hives if you have certain food allergies or suffer breathing difficulties or painful, itchy skin when stung by a bee or other insect.
In severe cases, the body can produce a life-threatening response called anaphylaxis, which makes it difficult to breath and can cause you to lose consciousness.
How are allergies diagnosed?
Dr. Surendran can often determine what allergens trigger a response based on your symptoms, your lifestyle, and your family’s allergy history.
On-site allergy tests are also available, where Dr. Surendran expose you to small amounts of common allergens to evaluate your body’s response.
What allergy treatments are available?
Once they determine what substances you are allergic to, your doctor creates a custom treatment plan to prevent future allergy attacks.
If over-the-counter medications aren’t enough to keep your allergies well-controlled, you may be a good candidate for immunotherapy. This type of treatment involves injections of small amounts of an allergen to help your body adapt to exposure. Injection therapy requires several injections over a period of time to achieve successful results.
If you have a history of life-threatening allergic reactions, you can also work with the team at Rochester Primary Care on an emergency treatment plan. Many with severe allergies need to carry epinephrine to quickly reverse allergic reactions and prevent serious health complications, including death.
Call the office today to learn more about allergy treatments and prevention techniques or book a consultation online today.
