Consultations offered at our three convenient locations in Ahwatukee, Cave Creek and Prescott Valley, AZ
Treating seasonal allergies is important for improving your quality of life and preventing long-term conditions that can affect your heart, brain, and lungs. Allergies can cause inflammation in the body that can increase your risk of developing asthma, eczema, Alzheimer’s disease,(1) and heart disease. If left untreated, inflammation can also have a long-term impact on your cognitive function and your ability to perform well in your daily life.
At Rejenesis Health and Wellness, Dr. Kevin Chan is a board-certified lipidologist with decades of experience helping patients find relief from allergies. He is well known for innovative allergy testing. His treatments can quickly help your body recover to improve your well-being and quality of life for many years to come.
Contact our office to learn more about how allergy testing can improve your well-being:
Seasonal allergies can affect your quality of life, especially if they cause persistent symptoms such as congestion or a runny nose. Nasal inflammation affects more than 50 million Americans, (2) and some individuals have become so accustomed to living with seasonal allergies, that they do not know they have them. In Arizona, high winds carry the pollen and plant allergens from desert flowers, which can make it difficult to manage during allergy season from February to June. Treating seasonal allergies can improve your long-term health and prevent chronic conditions that are tied to untreated allergies and inflammation.
Inflammation can wear on your immune system by kicking it into overdrive. When your body has an allergic reaction, it creates immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to fight the inflammation. Although seasonal allergies are temporary, they still put stress on the body’s immune system, and this stress can put you at a higher risk for developing chronic disease. Contact our office to learn more about how a simple allergy test and treatment can have a life-long impact!
Aeroallergens
Aeroallergens are airborne and they irritate the lungs when you inhale them. They can contribute to the development of asthma which can increase the risk of developing heart disease. Common aeroallergens include mold, animal dander, and weeds. If you often experience symptoms when gardening or traveling, we can test for aeroallergens to help you find relief. This can prevent lung irritation that could make it difficult to participate in physical exercise.
Allergies and Heart Disease
Allergies have been linked to both asthma and eczema which wear on the body’s immune system and can increase the risk of developing heart disease. Heart failure affects approximately 26 million people globally. (3) Approximately 25% of deaths in the United States are linked to heart disease and stroke–(4) conditions that living with untreated allergies can put you at a higher risk of developing. Although seasonal allergies are temporary, they can wear on the body. With allergy treatments, we can help your body build up a tolerance to enhance your quality of life.
Allergies and Brain Health
Allergies and brain health are closely linked. When your body experiences inflammation and your organs become inflamed, this can result in brain inflammation as well (neuroinflammation). (5) The mental stress from allergies can also lead to brain inflammation, and affect your working memory as well as daily performance. With allergy testing, we can help you find relief by addressing the allergies that are causing your symptoms.
Allergies and Athletic Performance
Inflammation from allergies can affect your athletic performance, making it difficult to participate in physical activities. Allergies can cause exercise-induced asthma, make breathing difficult, and cause tightness in the chest that affects your ability to exercise. Allergies can also trigger serious allergic reactions during exercise (exercise-induced anaphylaxis) or hives (exercise-induced urticaria). Allergy tests and treatments can help you reduce your symptoms during seasons when the allergen is unavoidable and prevent chronic conditions.
Allergy Testing
To determine the best treatment for your needs, we will perform an allergy test. To identify allergens, we will analyze the levels of IgE antibodies in your blood and create a treatment plan to help you find relief and reduce your risk of developing conditions related to allergies and long-term inflammation:
Scratch test: We can gently scratch the surface of your skin to identify allergens. We will use a small device to test for a skin reaction to common allergens. This minimally invasive test only takes 15-20 minutes.
Blood test: With a “finger poke” test, we can take a small sample of blood and analyze it for IgE antibodies to identify allergens and create a personalized treatment plan. In some cases where patients need more comprehensive testing, we can also draw a small sample of blood to analyze.
If you have an airborne allergy, food-related sensitivity, or contact allergy, we will perform a scratch test. We will need to discuss your diet in-depth and whether or not you are taking heartburn medications, antihistamines, or steroids. If you are, we will likely ask that you stop taking them before your allergy test because they can affect your results.
Allergy injections can help your body build up a tolerance to allergens when you are exposed to them. Desensitizing your body can improve your quality of life and daily function, especially during allergy season when allergens are unavoidable. We can discuss the best treatment option after performing an allergy test.
Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT)
During SLIT therapy, we can administer an allergen extract beneath your tongue in the form of a spray or tablet to help you build up tolerance. We can gradually increase the dose during a “build-up phase” to help your body become more comfortable with the allergen until you reach a maintenance-level dose that you can take as prescribed.
Depending on the type of allergies you have and your symptoms, we may also prescribe antihistamines and corticosteroids as part of your treatment plan. We may also ask you to make adjustments to your routine and diet to avoid allergens.
Candidates & Consultation
Candidates for allergy testing often struggle with sneezing, congestion, a runny nose, and rashes or skin irritation. If you feel unwell after being outdoors or have consistent allergic reactions, allergy testing can help you identify irritants. We can customize the treatment based on your specific symptoms and needs.
During your consultation, we will discuss your symptoms to determine a treatment plan. Please come to your appointment prepared to discuss your medical history, lifestyle, and current medications to help us create the best plan for your needs. If you have food allergies, we can also discuss them to create the best plan for your needs.
Allergy treatments do not require downtime and you can return to your normal activities whether you receive an allergy shot or SLIT therapy. After an allergy treatment, you can enjoy relief from symptoms that are affecting your daily life. With clearer sinuses, many patients find that their quality of life improves. If you have rashes or itching, allergy treatments can also help so you can enjoy feeling more comfortable in your daily life.
It can, however, take several weeks to enjoy the full effect of SLIT therapy until you reach a maintenance dose that you can take to prevent an allergic reaction to allergens. You can enjoy your symptoms gradually improving over time.
The Cost of Seasonal Allergies in Phoenix
The cost of seasonal allergy treatments will depend on your symptoms. We customize each treatment to help you address your specific symptoms. Reducing underlying inflammation can impact your long-term health and prevent chronic conditions that can permanently alter your quality of life.
Contact our office to learn more about how allergy testing and treatment can transform your quality of life:
Will inflammation from allergies affect my brain health?
Yes, inflammation from allergies not only affects mental clarity, but it can lead to long-term illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease. Allergy testing and treatment can help to reduce your risk.
Are allergy shots vaccines?
No, allergy shots are not vaccines, but they do help your body build up a tolerance to reduce your symptoms and help you feel more comfortable in your daily life.
How do I know which type of allergy test is the best for me?
We can perform an allergy test to identify allergens and create a personalized treatment plan to help you find relief and reduce your symptoms.
How long will it take for the allergy treatment to take effect?
It can take a few days to weeks to experience the full effect of the treatment, depending on your symptoms. If you receive SLIT therapy, we will gradually increase the dose over time and prescribe a maintenance dose to help you find relief.
References
Sarlus H, Höglund CO, Karshikoff B, et al. Allergy influences the inflammatory status of the brain and enhances tau-phosphorylation. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. 2012;16(10):2401-2412. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01556.x
Guo YG, Zhang Y, Liu WL. The causal relationship between allergic diseases and heart failure: Evidence from Mendelian randomization study. Zhu Z, ed. PLOS ONE. 2022;17(7):e0271985. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0271985
Sarlus H, Höglund CO, Karshikoff B, et al. Allergy influences the inflammatory status of the brain and enhances tau-phosphorylation. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. 2012;16(10):2401-2412. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01556.x
