Allergy treatment options may include allergy avoidance, medications, and immunotherapy. Avoidance measures help control the environment that we live in. Medications can be over the counter or prescribed and treat allergy symptoms. Immunotherapy is a process of changing your body’s immune system response to the specific allergen.

Eczema is known as atopic dermatitis. Eczema is a red, scaly, itchy rash appears on the face, elbows, and knees. Aeroallergens, foods and emotional stress can be the culprit of this skin allergy. The key is to avoid the flare up. Relief can be found in the use of cold compresses, antihistamines, and in some cases topical corticosteroids. (AAAAI, Allergic Skin Conditions)

R. Mikkelson                        

Hives, also known as urticaria, is a treatable skin allergy. A hive is a red, itchy, raised area of the skin and can appear anywhere on your body. These welts may last a few hours to a few days for acute cases. Chronic hives may last months to years for some people. Common triggers include food and medication.  

Swelling that affects the deeper skin layers is known as angioedema. Angioedema occurs with hives and can be noticed on the hands, feet, tongue, lips, and eyelids.

If you know your allergy trigger avoid it. Antihistamines may also help relieve your symptoms. Be sure to consult a physician for a treatment plan that works for you. (AAAAI, Allergic Skin Conditions)

R. Mikkelson

 An allergy is an immune system response to a usually harmless substance in the environment. Common allergens can be pollen, mold, dust mites, and animal dander. Allergies are a very common problem, affecting at least two of every 10 Americans. (Cited from WebMD)

R. Mikkelson

The only cure for a food allergy is avoidance. Anaphylaxis by definition is a sudden and severe allergic reaction.
 

If you see or feel any of the following life threatening symptoms seek emergency medical help immediately:

• Difficulty breathing
• Drop in blood pressure
• Rapid heart rate
• Swollen tongue, throat, or other part of the body
• Narrowing of the airways and wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe)
• Fainting
• Dizziness

R. Mikkelson

(Coping with Allergies & Asthma, March/April 2009)

Click on the link below to watch an interview with the mother of one of our patients.  It's a wonderful story about a boy who has been able to help keep his asthma under control with the help of his allergy drops.  

Easy Allergy Relief

J. Garth

Pollen is produced by trees in the spring, grasses in the summer and weeds in the fall. Those who suffer from allergies want to filter the air and keep pollen exposure outside. Tree allergies actually begin before the bud can be visibly seen on trees and flowers. This is the time that you want to start your allergy medications. For the most effective relief be consistent with taking your allergy medications. Knowing what you are allergic to will help your provider treat you properly. Nasal rinses can help relieve nasal allergy symptoms. Monitor the pollen counts in your area.

Tips to decrease pollen exposure:

1. Take a shower after spending time out doors.
2. Keep your windows and doors closed. Use air conditioning.
3. Encourage hand washing after playing out doors.
4. Avoid hanging laundry outside to dry.
5. Keep pets out of your bedroom. Bathe your pets regularly.
6. Use an air purifier.
7. Use a HEPA filter vacuum.

R. Mikkelson

(Coping with Allergies & Asthma, March/April 2009)

Avoidance is a key part of improving your allergy symptoms. Pillow encasements are an affordable allergy avoidance tool. They range from a few dollars on up and have many different varieties and textures. When purchasing a pillow encasement read the package closely. For the full avoidance benefits encase your mattress and box spring as well.

Below is a link to a website that offers allergy control products.
http://www.allergycontrol.com/



R. Mikkelson

Do you “catch” a cold at the same time every year? Or, do you have seasonal allergies?

Cold and allergy symptoms may look alike.  A cold is caused by any of several contagious viruses and usually lasts three to fourteen days. Cold symptoms may "present" as a cough, sore throat, or congestion with yellow mucus. Less often colds can include aches and fatigue.

Allergies are caused by exposure to an allergen. Allergies can last from days to months depending on your exposure and may "present" any time of the year. Allergy symptoms often include congestion with clear mucus and itchy watery eyes. Non-traditional allergy symptoms can be a cough, sore throat, and fatigue.

By: R. Mikkelson

Summer has officially ended, and so have the allergies that were related to the warmer weather.  Why, then, are you still suffering?  The answer may be: Fall Allergies. 

Although fall allergy triggers may be slightly different, they can produce the same miserable feelings you may be used to from your spring culprits.  During the fall season, the biggest allergy trigger is ragweed.  This yellow-flowering weed usually starts pollinating in August, but it can hang around well into the fall season.  According to an article from WebMD, approximately three-fourths of people who are allergic to spring pollen-producing plants are also allergic to ragweed.  Even if ragweed doesn’t grow in your area, it can travel hundreds of miles on the wind, thus causing your allergic symptoms.  

Other fall allergies may include both dust mites and mold.  Dust mites tend to get stirred up into the air the first time you turn on your furnace, and can cause symptoms such as sneezing, wheezing, and a runny nose.  Mold allergies tend to increase in the fall due to the damp weather.  The large piles of leaves that have been evident in your neighborhood can be a breeding ground for mold, as well as damp basements and bathrooms in your home.

Here are a few tips for easing fall allergy symptoms:

1. Stay indoors when pollen is at its peak (10 am-3 pm) to avoid exposure to your triggers.  Keep the doors and windows closed.
2. Have your heating ducts cleaned prior to turning your furnace on for the first time.  This can remove the particles of mold and other allergens that may be trapped in the vents.
3. Use a high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) in your heating system to help remove pollen, mold, and other allergens from the air.
4. Wear a mask when you rake leaves to avoid inhaling mold spores that may be lurking in those growing piles.

• Peanut free
• Tree-nut free
• Dairy free
• Egg free
• Gluten free
• Trans fat free
• Gelatin free 

• No nuts
• No eggs
• No dairy
• Just delicious

• Gluten free
  
• Wheat free
  
• Dairy free
  
• Peanut free
  
• Tree nut free
  
• Egg free

Allergies can be frustrating!  I should know; I get them too.  Allergy season is just beginning
for those of us in Wisconsin, but it is in full swing in other parts of the country.

I would like to share the following story with you because it truly shows the power to help manage our health that each of us can have:

I received a phone call the other day from a woman in Florida who was looking for a participating physician in her area who writes allergy drop prescriptions with our pharmacy.  The reason she called was because even with her insurance company's co-payments for allergy shots, they were still costing her a lot of money. She decided therefore to look for a different option to treat her allergies.  Following our talk, she visited our website and in the "For Patients" section, down-loaded the appropriate forms and gave them her allergist.  I got a phone call today from her allergist requesting directions on how to get this patient started on allergy drops.  I'm happy to see that her doctor was so responsive to her needs and was willing to take the time to call us for more information.

This woman took a pro-active first step towards fully participating in the management of her health.


Janel Garth

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Richmond, Virginia is the “most challenging” place to live for Americans that suffer from asthma.  It is joined in the Top 25 by many other southern states.  The AAFA says this could be caused by the slow adoption of “100% smoke-free” laws.

The five worst-ranked cities for people with asthma are:

1. Richmond, Virginia
2. St. Louis, Missouri
3. Chattanooga, Tennessee
4. Knoxville, Tennessee
5. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 Experts at the AAFA say that every city in the country has various risk factors and that people need to work with their doctors in order to control asthma, regardless of where they live. More than 20 million U.S. residents live with asthma, thus making it one of the most common and costly diseases.

*Article adapted from WebMD Health News

People often think that pet allergies are caused by the hair on their pets. However, it is generally caused by a protein found in the animal’s dander, which is made up of flaky skin cells and dried saliva. All pets produce dander, although some breeds may produce less dander than others. Pet dander is found in the homes of pet owners, but can also find its way into schools, offices and other areas since dander may stick to clothes and other personal belongings.

Before ...