When Should I Visit an Allergy Clinic?

Minor allergies are very common, making it sometimes difficult to determine when it is valid to receive medical interventions and have a specialist help treat your allergies. Anyone suffering from allergic reactions can visit an allergist if they wish to do something more than just take over-the-counter medicine or avoid what they presume to be their allergens, but a visit with an allergist is highly recommended if you suffer from chronic sinus issues including nasal congestion, trouble breathing, inflammation, or infections. Other indications that you should schedule a visit with an allergist include suffering from cold symptoms that persist for 14 days or longer, and if you suffer from any asthmatic symptoms including wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, and breathing difficulty after exercising.

If you have an appointment scheduled with your allergist, it is important to make sure that you have all relevant information and instructions to ensure that you are prepared for the appointment. It is common for allergists to perform an allergy test, likely a skin prick test, which means you should not have any anti-allergy medication in your system; avoid taking any oral antihistamines at least two days before the scheduled appointment. You may want to bring an antihistamine with you though for after the skin prick test is completed to lessen the itchiness of the skin. It is also recommended that you keep a list of potential allergens and symptoms to provide the allergist with a more specific direction for course of treatment and what kinds of allergies should be tested for. If you have any other questions or concerns leading up to your appointment with the allergist, you can call the office to ensure that you are completely prepared and comfortable for your appointment.

The severity of allergies that you experience can change with age, with many people reporting sensitivities to some allergens that they eventually outgrow, or developing allergies as they age that did not previously cause reactions. This is due to the changes in our immune systems that occur with age, as well as changes in the environment. Many people are reporting worsened seasonal allergies, which can be traced back to climate change as the pollen season continues to lengthen each year. Increased stress levels can also cause your immune system to weaken, so mild allergies throughout your childhood can become much more severe as you age and undergo increased levels of stress on a daily basis. Repeated and prolonged exposure to some allergens can cause the allergy symptoms to worsen as well, with your immune system just taking extra time to decide if it doesn’t like a specific allergen. Additionally, if you develop an underlying health condition that leads to a weakened immune system, your allergy symptoms will also likely worsen.

If you leave your allergies untreated for a long time, it will not only cause you to have to live with your allergy symptoms for much longer than you should ever have to, they can also continue to worsen as time passes, increasing the possibility of suffering from more severe allergy attacks. Your immune system will be so busy trying to attack this allergen that it will end up being weakened in fighting off other substances, increasing the chances of developing fungal or bacterial infections in the sinuses, ears, skin, or even lungs. As well, suffering from allergies long-term will affect quality of sleep, with symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and congestion causing you to have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, leading to chronic fatigue. This fatigue is further worsened due to the body’s response to allergens also causing chemicals to release that make you feel more tired, and this chronic fatigue will eventually lead to general brain fog and decreased productivity. For more information, please contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Lawrenceville GA, Atlanta GA, Conyers GA, Suwanee GA, Duluth GA, Grayson GA, Decatur GA, Brookhaven GA, Lithonia GA, and Covington GA