Confused who to call to treat you chronic congestion, cough or wheezing?

For certain people, their allergies are quite easy to identify. If you’re allergic to pets, bees or certain kinds of foods, for example, you have little doubt when you experience an acute allergic reaction. However, sometimes the indications of an allergy are less obvious, and you may even get so accustomed to the symptoms that you don’t even notice them. However, rest assured your family, friends and coworkers do notice—from the chronic coughing, snorting and throat-clearing at work to the snoring and wheezing that keeps your spouse awake at night. Untreated allergies may even affect your appearance, leaving you with sallow skin and dark circles under the eyes. Even if you don’t think your symptoms are severe, it may be time to schedule an appointment with a board-certified allergist. Many people with allergies don’t realize how much better you can feel with the right treatment.

Allergies are more common than most people realize, and millions of people go undiagnosed. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, an estimated 50 million Americans suffer from some sort of allergy each year, making allergies the sixth most common cause of chronic illness in America. Between 10 and 30 percent of the world’s population suffers from nasal allergies alone. Allergies to plant, mold, dust and similar allergens may be hard to distinguish from cold and other symptoms, but they can certainly have a negative impact on your quality of life, both for you and those around you. Left untreated, these allergies may have more serious long-term consequences such as constant sinus or ear infections, unrelenting headaches, chronic fatigue, chronic asthma and compromised lung function.

Signs that You Should See a Board-Certified Allergist

Consider seeing a board-certified allergist/immunologist if you experience any of the following:

• Cold-like symptoms that last longer than two weeks.
• Wheezing or shortness of breath.
• Unexplained rashes or hives.
• Persistent cough and/or congestion.
• Persistent urge to clear the throat.
• Experiencing three or more ear, throat, lung or sinus infections per year.
• Consistent snoring.
• Sallow skin tone (sometimes due to insufficient oxygen in the blood cells).
• Lack of relief or undesirable side effects from over-the-counter medicines.
• Sleep disruption due to nasal congestion.

Feel better, sleep better, look better. See an allergist.

How an Allergist Can Help

When you visit the office of a board-certified allergist, the doctor will review your medical history and your symptoms to determine the underlying cause. He/she will also use various forms of skin testing (without needles) to determine your specific allergy triggers. Once the cause is confirmed, the allergist will prescribe a treatment plan and make suggestions for adapting and dealing with the underlying cause. Lifestyle changes may be as simple as implementing a more effective cleaning method at home or a medicine regimen. Most patients who have their allergies properly diagnosed find an improved quality of life as a result.

All the physicians of Allergy & Asthma Specialists are board-certified in allergy and clinical immunology. You can easily schedule an appointment at one of our eight convenient locations, and we can usually determine the source of your allergies in a single visit using skin testing without the use of needles. To learn more, contact us today at 1-800-86-COUGH, or click here to visit our website with information on the location closest to you.”