Basic to the management of any illness is an understanding on the part of you, the patient, of the disease or disorder that affects you. Empowered with such information, you and your physician can then design a treatment program that meets your personal needs and lifestyle.

Our practice is dedicated to providing such education through a number of ways:

· personalized one-on-one time with your physician

· updated website information with links to additional patient education resources

Allergy sufferers respond to those things to which they have been exposed (allergens), and to environmental irritants. Generally, the more symptoms you are having with your allergies, the more severe your reaction will be upon exposure to irritants. Your physician will review with you your specific allergies, how allergic you are to each, and measures you can take to avoid future exposure.

Patients tend to respond to the total allergic load, i.e., everything to which they are allergic and exposed at a point in time. That is why patients with both inhalant and food allergies often find that they cannot tolerate even small amounts of offending food allergens during their allergy season.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Seasonal allergies affect people during certain times of the year. In Colorado, these are primarily pollens: trees, grasses, and weeds. Due to our relatively dry climate, outdoor exposure to mold is limited except during our damper months (May through September). Some mold sensitive patients will notice a significant increase in symptoms during these months.

Year-round (perennial) allergies are usually caused by indoor allergies. Most Americans spend more than 20 hours each day indoors. Anything that circulates the indoor air (forced air heating, fans) can increase your exposure to indoor allergens. That is why people with perennial allergy symptoms tend to have more trouble during the winter when forced air heat runs at home, at work, or at school.

Irritants bother people with allergies more than non-allergic people. These include: tobacco smoke, fireplace smoke, household sprays, i.e. room deodorizers and hair spray, perfumes and colognes, heavy air pollution, road dust, saw dust, chalk dust, house dust, cleaning agents and paint fumes. Limiting these exposures lead to clinical improvement.

Effective control of allergies can usually be achieved with the use of medication. Medications used to treat allergies tend to suppress symptoms. They do not affect the cause of your problem. Other than treating infections that may occur as a complication (e.g., sinusitis, ear infections, pneumonia) of your underlying allergic disorder, medications will not eliminate your allergies. That is why it is so important to work with your physician to identify your allergies and ways to deal with them. Effective management of your allergies will lead to decreased need to take medication, and often eliminate the need to take lifelong daily medication.

Your physician will take many factors into consideration before recommending specific medications to treat your allergic condition(s). They may include: age, sex, general health, other medical conditions, other medications you take, life style, occupation, severity of your illness, effectiveness of the medication, frequency of administration of the medication, short and long term side effects, medication allergies, cost of the medication, inclusion of the medication on your health plan’s formulary, forms of the medication (liquid, pill, inhaler), and your personal preference.

Our physicians recommend the use of both step up and step down medication therapy. When the severity of your allergic disorder changes, either for the worse or the better, they will recommend either increasing or decreasing the amounts and types of medications to be used. Good two way communication between the patient and their physician is vitally important to assure the best clinical outcomes. That is why it is so important to see your doctor on a regular basis to review your clinical course and treatment plan.

Allergy injection therapy is a form of treatment whereby periodic injections of those inhalant allergens to which a patient is allergic are administered to build up their own body’s tolerance and resistance to those allergens. Unlike those immunizations where large doses are administered infrequently (e.g., every 10 years in adults for a tetanus immunization), allergy injection therapy starts with very small doses to minimize the likelihood of an allergic reaction to the injection itself. These doses are gradually increased over a period of 4 to 8 months until a maintenance dose is achieved. Once clinical effectiveness is realized (usually after 12-18 months), the frequency of injections is gradually reduced over the next several years. The duration of treatment may vary from patient to patient depending on multiple factors (effectiveness of therapy, frequency and severity of continued allergen exposure, need for ongoing drug therapy, patient preference), but for most patients, averages 4 to 6 years. Following conclusion of the recommended course of therapy, most patients experience few symptoms.

Many studies published in reputable medical journals confirm the short/long term benefits of allergy injections. Other than total avoidance of the offending allergens, it is the only form of treatment that has the ability to "cure" your allergies. There is increasing evidence that appropriately administered allergy injection therapy for the treatment of allergic rhinitis can prevent the development of asthma.

Allergy injection therapy is administered primarily in selected patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, and hymenoptera venom sensitivity. For respiratory allergic disorders, it is most effective in the treatment of pollen, dust mite, and mold allergy. Newer standardized vaccines have increased the effectiveness of injections for cats, and less so to dogs and horses.

Referral to an allergy specialist for consultation is recommended for patients being considered for allergy injection therapy. Such treatment should always be administered under the direction of an allergy specialist, and only in a medical office where facilities and trained personnel are available to treat any reaction that may occur. Life threatening reactions can occur, but are rare.

Allergy injection therapy is covered by many health plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and Champus. Some insurers require a patient co-pay. You should check with your health plan regarding coverage if you are considering such treatment.