From a minor instance of hay fever to a life-threatening instance of anaphylactic shock, allergies are pretty common, affecting 40-50M persons in the U.S. More often than not, you can easily deal with allergic reactions by using over-the-counter pills or persevering. However, these approaches are not always sufficient. Sometimes, a trip to your allergist might be required for a tailored prescription or more information about your condition. So, what are the signs that you should arrange a consultation with your Surprise allergist? Read on to learn more.
Chronic Concerns
Undoubtedly the most prevalent reason patients pursue expert care from an allergist is because they have persistent symptoms that do not quite seem to go away or are recurring. Common allergy-related concerns include watery eyes, nasal congestion, snoring, or a runny nose. If these symptoms last for over two weeks to a month or seem to recur, you should consult an allergist to identify what is causing it and establish the right care plan.
Over-the-Counter Medicines are Insufficient
Typically, you can care for mild or temporary allergic reactions by yourself. Once allergy symptoms become chronic, though, dependence on conventional antihistamines is ineffective. Over-the-counter medications may lose their effectiveness, and the drowsiness that most antihistamines cause can make everyday life difficult. Suppose visits to the drugstore are not sufficient to address your concerns. In that case, you should contact a professional for perhaps a more robust prescription or closer examination of the inherent reason for your allergic reactions.
Identifying Unknown Allergies
Maybe the most disliked element of visiting an allergist is that you have to endure the discomfort of a skin prick test. In this procedure, your allergist injects measured amounts of recognized allergens, including proteins in pet dander, pollens from different trees and grasses, food allergens, and more. Huge swelling at a particular injection site indicates an allergy to that substance. As a result, you can identify what foods, plants, or other substances you should avoid keeping your allergy symptoms at bay.
Functional Limitation
Sometimes, you can power through even chronic allergy symptoms, while complaining about how it affects your life quality. However, once the signs of chronic allergies interfere with your capacity to perform everyday tasks, you should no longer dismiss your concerns. Allergies can keep you from engaging in the things you love, not forgetting to affect your sleep, work efficiency, and more. In such cases, your allergist can advise you on what you should do to regain complete functionality.
Having Issues with Your New Pet
Most people do not allow allergic reactions to pet dander to keep them from loving animals. Whereas pander is a prevalent allergen, some persons can cure their symptoms with allergy drugs or fade away after limiting contact with pets. Still, you might have become used to your current pet such that you do not suffer allergic reactions anymore. However, bringing a new pet into your house, perhaps because of your kids, could trigger new allergic responses. In this case, talk to your allergist about how you can manage your symptoms or control the specific allergen.
If one or more of these scenarios apply to you, it is time to arrange an appointment with your allergist. Those in Surprise and the greater Arizona area need to look no further than Oasis Ear, Nose, and Throat. Call the office or use the online scheduling tool to talk about your concerns and explore an appropriate care plan for you.
