What are allergies?
Allergies manifest when your immune system reacts to a foreign material — such as pollen, bee venom, or pet dander — or a meal that most people do not react to.
Antibodies are chemicals that your immune system produces. When you have allergies, your immune system produces antibodies that label a specific allergen as dangerous even though it is not. When you come into contact with an allergen, your immune system's reaction may cause inflammation of your skin, sinuses, airways, or digestive tract.
Allergies can vary in severity for every individual and can range from moderate irritation to anaphylaxis — a potentially fatal condition. While most allergies do not have a permanent cure, some available treatment options can help alleviate your allergy symptoms.
Who is an allergist?
Allergists are physicians who specialize in immunity-related disorders. Your immune system consists of disease-fighting cells, organs, and tissues. Immune system problems that an allergist treats include:
- Allergic conditions: They develop when your immune system reacts abnormally to something you eat, breathe in (inhale), or touch.
- Asthma: It is an inflammation of the airways of your lungs. Stimuli in your surroundings usually trigger asthma attacks.
- Primary immunodeficiency diseases: These are hereditary illnesses that cause your immune system to malfunction. There are around 200 different types of primary immunodeficiency diseases.
It is best to consult an allergy specialist near you if you suspect these issues.
What does an allergist do?
Allergists can perform and interpret several diagnostic procedures relating to immune system disorders. They can accordingly provide treatment for the identified issues. Allergists can help you with the following:
- Test for allergies related to food, pollen (grass, trees, weeds), pet dander, mold, and other triggers.
- Diagnose asthma by testing your lung function.
- Prescribe medications or medical equipment to help prevent, treat, or minimize allergic responses and asthma episodes.
- Suggest lifestyle modifications to avoid asthma and allergy triggers.
- Give allergy injections or other types of immunotherapy to help minimize allergic reactions.
- Diagnose immunodeficiency conditions.
- Suggest how to avoid infection while living with an immunological disease.
- Administer intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) to treat certain immune disorders.
- Perform drug desensitization so that you can take essential drugs safely.
When should you visit an allergist near you?
There are many types of allergies, and they may not always be apparent. Several indicators suggest you should see an allergist, including:
- Over-the-counter allergy medications do not work
Even if you already know you have "hay fever" or other seasonal allergies, seeing an allergist may be helpful. If conventional over-the-counter (OTC) allergy drugs aren't correctly treating your symptoms, an allergist can prescribe stronger medications to help you alleviate symptoms.
- Insomnia or chronic snoring
Many allergies result in substantial sinus irritation. That might make breathing difficult while sleeping, leading to snoring or sleeplessness.
- Sinus or ear infections that are chronic
While germs or viruses do not cause allergies, they can make you more susceptible to illnesses. Specific allergies might create inflammation in your sinuses or eustachian tubes, preventing them from clearing.
This offers an ideal setting for ear or sinus infections. If you have either of these issues frequently, seeing an allergist may help you avoid them in the future.
- Unusual mouth and throat irritation
Food allergies do not always cause significant symptoms, as peanut and shellfish allergies sometimes do. Instead, they may merely cause itching and soreness in the mouth, face, or throat regularly.
What to expect when you are visiting an allergist?
When you visit an allergist near you, they will ask questions to better understand when your allergy symptoms are most prevalent. They may also run several tests to pinpoint specific allergies. These tests may include the following:
- Blood tests
- Patch tests
- Skin examinations
- Pulmonary function tests
- Nasal smears
Typically, small amounts of allergens are used in these tests to discover which allergens, if any, trigger an immunological response.
They will provide a recommendation based on the results of these tests. Treating minor allergies can be as easy as avoiding the allergen or using over-the-counter antihistamines since most allergies are caused by your immune system producing too much histamine, particularly pollen and dander allergies. If it is not possible to avoid particular medications, an allergist can give a stronger medication to alleviate symptoms.
Severe allergies may necessitate a more aggressive course of treatment. Allergists can recommend an epinephrine pen for use in emergencies for patients with severe allergies or those who have previously experienced anaphylactic shock.
They may also advise immunotherapy for persistent allergies. This is a treatment plan that gradually desensitizes your immune system to certain allergens.
What is the difference between an allergy and a cold?
Colds and allergies share several symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, congestion, fatigue, and coughing. However, colds may also bring aches, pains, fever, and sometimes itchy, watery eyes, whereas allergies typically do not cause aches, pains, or fever but can lead to itchy, watery eyes.
If you notice symptoms in April accompanied by visible yellow-green pollen, especially on surfaces like your car, it’s likely you are experiencing seasonal allergies or hay fever. This likelihood increases if you experience similar symptoms at the same time each year. While colds can occur any time, including spring and summer, they are most common in colder weather.
The onset of symptoms can also help pinpoint the cause. Allergy symptoms generally begin almost immediately after exposure to an allergen, such as pollen. For example, if you are allergic to pollen, you might experience symptoms as soon as you encounter it. Conversely, cold germs typically take one to three days before symptoms develop. If you’ve recently been near someone who is sick, your symptoms are more likely due to a cold.
Colds usually last from three days to about a week, though some people may experience symptoms for up to two weeks. An improvement after a few days typically suggests recovery from a cold. If your symptoms progressively worsen each day, it might indicate a bacterial infection. You should consult a doctor if the symptoms persist beyond one to two weeks or worsen after about five days.
Allergy symptoms persist as long as you’re exposed to the trigger. For example, if you’re allergic to cat dander, your sniffles should subside once you move away from a cat.
How can I find an allergy specialist near me in San Francisco?
Finding a qualified allergist in your neighborhood, especially in emergencies, can be difficult. Use Zocdoc, which is an online platform that aids in connecting you with required healthcare providers.
After creating an account, enter your condition, specialty, location, date, and insurance plan. If you cannot find your insurance plan listed on Zocdoc, you have the option to upload a photo of your medical insurance card. Kindly note that this option is not available for vision or dental insurance cards. Once uploaded, we will scan the image of your card to help identify your plan. If you encounter any issues while uploading your photo, please reach out to our service team for assistance. For additional insurance-related questions, feel free to visit Zocdoc’s insurance page. Based on your search criteria, Zocdoc will give you a comprehensive list of the best allergy specialists near you in San Francisco. Depending on the doctor's availability, patients can make a same-day appointment or schedule appointments outside regular business hours or on weekends.
Each primary care doctor has a detailed profile on Zocdoc that includes a synopsis of their education, training, locations, how frequently they see patients, and—most importantly—verified reviews and ratings by past patients. These reviews will help you choose the right allergist near you. Once you have decided on the provider, you can set up video appointments on Zocdoc or schedule an in-person meeting.
On Zocdoc, scheduling an appointment is secure, quick, and free!
Statistics related to allergies
According to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-third of adults in the United States reported a seasonal allergy, eczema, or food allergy in 2021. The same data reports that seasonal allergy was the most common of these three allergies. It affected around one-quarter of individuals (~25.7%), followed by eczema (~7.3%) and food allergy (~6.2%). Women were more likely than men to have a diagnosed allergy in all three categories. The incidence of diagnosed eczema and food allergies decreased with increasing age. In contrast, the prevalence of a diagnosed seasonal allergy was about 24.7% in adults aged 18-44, nearly 27.9% in adults aged 45-64, approximately 26.4% in adults aged 65-74, and about 21.7% in adults aged 75 and above.
Sources
WebMD[1]
Cleveland Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
WebMD[2]
