Allergy Testing and Treatment

Are you dealing with allergies? Here’s what you should know about testing and treatment. 

Our immune systems are pretty amazing; after all, they fight foreign invaders to keep us healthy and safe; however, sometimes our immune systems get things a little mixed up, and they think a harmless substance is dangerous, and it reacts just like it was a germ or foreign invader (even though it’s not). This is what allergies are. If you are dealing with allergies, here’s how our Marietta, GA, otolaryngologists Dr. Steve Oliveras and Dr. Howard Herman can diagnose and treat them.

Signs and Symptoms of Allergies 

Allergy symptoms range. Some people only deal with minor issues during certain times of the year, while others may deal with severe symptoms all year long. Common allergy symptoms include,

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Watery, itchy and red eyes
• Itchy nose
• Runny nose
• Hives or itchy skin
• Nasal congestion

Sometimes an allergic reaction can be life-threatening (known as anaphylaxis) and requires immediate medical attention. Signs of a severe allergic reaction include,

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Diarrhea
• Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat
• Dizziness
• Confusing
• Loss of consciousness
• Weak heart rate

Testing for Allergies 

If you are dealing with allergies or think you might be, the next step is to turn to our Marietta, GA, ENT team for allergy testing. During your evaluation, we’ll go through your medical history and ask you questions about your environment, lifestyle and the symptoms you’re experiencing. We will determine whether you could benefit from allergic testing based on this information. The two most common types of allergy testing are a skin prick test and a blood test. Once we get your test results, we can map out a custom treatment plan.

Allergy Treatment

There are several ways in which our Marietta, GA, otolaryngologists, can help you manage your allergies. Your treatment plan may include,

• Lifestyle changes and avoidance of the allergen
• Medication: including decongestants, antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers
• At-home remedies (e.g., Neti pot)
• Alternative therapies (e.g., acupuncture)
• Allergy shots/immunotherapy

If you want to learn more about allergy testing and treatment, turn to our Marietta, GA, team at Pinnacle Allergy to get started. Call us at (404) 260-5366 to schedule an evaluation.