Allergy symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, skin rashes, and digestive distress interfere with your quality of life. At Creekside Family Practice in Cypress, Texas, board-certified family physician Hammad Qureshi, MD, offers allergy testing to help you receive a diagnosis and effective treatment to get relief. Adults can call the office for an appointment for themselves or kids in their family or schedule by using the online portal.
What defines an allergy?
Allergies can be seasonal, characterized by sneezing, runny nose, and a cough. These symptoms are usually prompted by reactions to pollen and mold. But you may also be allergic and experience upper respiratory symptoms in response to:
- Pet dander
- Dust
- Pollution
You experience allergies when your immune system goes a bit haywire. It has an exaggerated response when it comes into contact with what it perceives as an allergen.
Allergies can sometimes show up as asthma, a chronic lung disease that interferes with your ability to breathe. Asthma symptoms may develop when you’re exposed to allergens, but they may also appear due to stress, exertion, or infections. Allergic asthma usually only appears when you’re exposed to a specific pollen.
What symptoms suggest an allergy?
Of course, sneezing, wheezing, and coughing indicate an allergy. A fever doesn’t usually accompany an allergy unless you’ve developed a sinus infection. Allergies may also show up as hives, gastrointestinal issues, or eye irritation.
You can’t cure an allergy or asthma, but you can get relief with expert management offered by Dr. Qureshi.
What is involved in allergy testing?
If you suspect you have an allergy to pollen, certain foods, pet dander, or other substances, Dr. Qureshi may recommend allergy testing. A skin test is a common method of testing. It involves puncturing your skin slightly and applying a liquid version of the suspected allergen to the site. Dr. Qureshi then monitors the site for a reaction, such as redness or swelling. He can investigate multiple allergens at one time.
This skin test is most effective for allergies related to airborne substances. Food allergies are often better identified with a blood test, although a skin test may sometimes be used. The blood test can also be valuable for people who shouldn’t undergo a skin test due to the possibility of a severe reaction.
If it’s suspected that you have asthma or another respiratory complication, Dr. Qureshi may recommend lung function testing, too.
How are allergies and asthma treated?
Dr. Qureshi creates a comprehensive treatment plan to help you find relief from allergies and, if applicable, asthma. Oral and inhaled medications and lifestyle changes that include avoiding triggers are effective ways to control your allergies and asthma.
Get the expert care you deserve for allergy symptoms. Call Creekside Family Practice or use the online tool to make an appointment.
