COVID Policies
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, our office has instituted several important changes.
For the safety of our patients and our staff, we will be limiting physical contact and supporting decreased travel.
Ash Tree Pollen
One of the first ash trees I've noticed this season to release its pollen. We are still seeing only minimal ash on our pollen counter.
Elm Pollen Starting to Release
Elm pollen (left) starting to release in moderate amounts as of March 1st. Juniper is also at low levels. Pollen has been later than usual this year with the cooler and wetter weather. .
Weeds are at high levels
August has been mostly dry, resulting in ample opportunity for weed pollen to release and travel in the wind.
Conditions We Treat
Our clinic is dedicated to providing conscientious specialized care to patients who have allergies and/or asthma. Our goal is to give you the most expert and up-to-date evaluation possible and to educate you about any problems we may diagnose so that you may handle them more effectively. In summary, we are willing to extend any amount of time and effort necessary to ensure your well being.
Allergen Immunotherapy (or Allergy Shots)
Allergy treatments include prevention, medication and immunotherapy. The most commonly used form of immunotherapy is allergy shots. Allergy shots may be recommended when avoiding your triggers or taking medications is not effective or is not feasible.
Food Oral Immunotherapy (OIT)
Historically, food allergy has been managed with strict avoidance. Fortunately, over the past decade, increasing evidence suggests that food allergy may be treated by desensitizing the immune system to a specific food. The technique used to do this is food oral immunotherapy (OIT).
During food OIT, a patient receives very small, increasing amounts of their allergic food in the allergy clinic. Typically doses of food are increased (“up-dosed”) in the allergy clinic and then a daily “maintenance” dose is taken at home between the up-dose visits.
Venom Immunotherapy
Venom allergy is the condition where an individual experiences a potentially dangerous allergic reaction from the sting of an insect, including honey bee, wasp, yellow jacket, yellow hornet, white faced hornet or imported fire ant. In addition to carrying epinephrine, it is recommended that individuals who experience a dangerous allergic reaction after being stung should undergo allergy evaluation to determine which types of stinging insect they are allergic.
Allergy Skin Testing
Our immune system makes specific IgE-antibody proteins to substances like pollen, animal dander, mold, flying insect venom, food or medications. The allergen works like a key that when it fits in the appropriate lock, it triggers the release of a number of different chemicals that cause allergic symptoms. Allergy skin tests help us find out if you make IgE-antibody proteins specific for individual allergens. The tests are done by two methods: prick and intradermal. Each procedure takes about 20 minutes to complete.
Pulmonary Function Testing (Spirometry)
Spirometry is a form of office-based pulmonary function testing that is a non-invasive, painless test performed in order provide measurable information in order to assess the function of your lungs. It can be used to help diagnose and monitor such conditions as asthma and chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD). The test takes just a few minutes to complete.