Whether you get them seasonally or all the time, allergy symptoms can range from a mild inconvenience to a life-threatening event. At Family Medicine Associates, PC, in Thornton, Colorado, the team of general practitioners provides personalized allergy care to treat symptoms or prevent them from returning. Call the office to schedule an appointment or book online today.
Allergies are the result of an overresponsive immune system. Usually, your immune system keeps you from getting sick by warding off infectious viruses and bacteria that enter your body. If you have an allergy, your immune system reacts to unharmful substances in your environment as if they were a threat to your health.
The allergic symptoms you experience when you come in contact with your allergen vary based on the type of allergen and the severity of your immune response. Some common allergy symptoms are:
Some people with severe allergies are prone to a particularly intense reaction called anaphylaxis. It’s life-threatening and causes breathing problems, a swollen throat, lightheadedness, and loss of consciousness. If your allergies are severe enough to cause this reaction, you need to carry an emergency auto-injector of epinephrine with you all the time.
There are many potential allergens in the world, and you may react to just one, several, or none at all. Some of the most common allergens that cause allergic symptoms are:
If you get allergy symptoms but aren’t sure what causes them, the team at Family Medicine Associates, PC, may recommend getting an allergy test. Allergy blood tests identify allergies by searching for antibodies in a blood sample, while skin tests use very small amounts of potential allergens to produce a controlled reaction on your skin.
No matter what causes your allergies, you can control them with a personalized care plan accounting for your lifestyle and how often you come into contact with an allergen. While some people can effectively manage their allergies by avoiding the allergen, this isn’t possible for everyone.
There are multiple medications you can take orally to control allergic symptoms. The team at Family Medicine Associates, PC, might prescribe or recommend histamines, corticosteroids, or nasal decongestants as part of your ongoing treatment plan. They can also prescribe epinephrine auto-injectors if you’re at risk of anaphylaxis.
Immunotherapy is a treatment for allergies that builds your tolerance to an allergen until it no longer causes symptoms. You get several injections over a few years, each containing a little more of the allergen than the last. When immunotherapy is successful, it prevents allergy symptoms from returning.
If you have allergies and would like to learn more about the available remedies, call Family Medicine Associates, PC, or book an appointment online today.