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On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for an Allergist in Silver Spring, book an appointment, and see the Allergist within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are often available, you can search for real-time availability of Allergists in Silver Spring who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
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Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Allergists in Silver Spring and book appointments instantly. You can search for Silver Spring Allergists by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
When you search for Silver Spring Allergists on Zocdoc, you can filter your results by gender, in addition to other criteria. That way, you’ll only see Allergists in Silver Spring who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Silver Spring Allergists with availability after 5 p.m.
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Allergists in Silver Spring on Zocdoc who see patients through online video visits will have a purple video icon on their profiles. You can also filter your search results to show only Allergists who offer video visits.
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Allergists in Silver Spring who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for an Allergist who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.
Zocdoc let's you see real-time availability for Allergists in Silver Spring. Many Allergists offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
An allergist is a medical expert specially trained in diagnosing and treating allergies and immune system-related disorders like immunologic anomalies, including early-stage immunodeficiency disorders and asthma. Allergists, also known as immunologists, deeply understand how the human body reacts to infections that may lead to specific allergies.
An individual can be allergic to several things; however, the most common allergic conditions are related to pollen, dander, food, and medications. Studies show that about 50% of people worldwide are allergic to something. While these allergies may not be 100% curable, allergists can help manage them.
Allergists require special training in the field of immunology, with an emphasis on allergies. Typically, allergists/immunologists in the U.S. undergo the following education plan before commencing medical practice.
They start with a four-year bachelor's degree at a university or college and another four years at an accredited medical school. After eight years of education, they complete a three-year residency specializing in internal medicine or pediatrics.
To better understand allergy-driven complications, they complete a two- to three-year fellowship where they are exposed to various allergy-related diagnoses and treatment techniques.
Most physicians take approximately nine years to complete their specialized education. During this period, they must clear exams conducted by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, or the American Board of Pediatrics.
As allergies are common in nature, their intensity and variation can differ from person to person. To get a fair understanding of the common conditions treated by allergists, we have listed some, but not limited to, immunological conditions, such as:
Some allergic reactions only surface in the initial stages, while others may not reveal significant symptoms in the early days. Hence, if over-the-counter medicines are not providing the desired remedy, it's advisable to visit an allergist for a suitable clinical review. Consider consulting an immunologist or an allergist if you are experiencing any of the below-mentioned issues.
Viruses or bacteria may not cause allergies, but they can compromise your immune system, thus making you susceptible to ear infections or chronic sinus. Allergic inflammation can block your eustachian tubes or sinus, preventing them from clearing up. Visit an allergist as soon as possible to stop these annoying symptoms.
Some allergies can block your sinus cavity by causing significant inflammation. This condition can lead to trouble breathing, snoring, sleep disturbance, or insomnia.
Recurring mouth and throat irritation can occur due to food allergies. Unlike peanut or shellfish allergies, most food allergies don't have a tell-tale symptom initially. Allergists have training in safely testing food allergies and recommend remedial measures accordingly.
Allergy symptoms vary depending on which substance, i.e., the allergen, is involved in causing a reaction. These symptoms generally appear in the body's airways, nasal and sinus passages, and the digestive system. Often, allergy symptoms develop gradually over time. If you frequently become sick with a cold, cough, congestion, or headaches, consider visiting an allergist near you. Allergic reactions or allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe and potentially life-threatening.
Other reasons to visit an allergist include the following:
In your first visit to the physician, the allergist would try to understand your dietary details, exposure to specific environments, proximity to animals, etc. They may advise some tests to further help in their diagnosis. Some of the standard allergy-identifying tests are:
Patch tests include small amounts of various allergens placed on an adhesive stick and applied to the skin to check the reaction. The second is a skin test, almost like a patch test. The only difference is that allergens have direct contact with the skin. These tests help identify if the patient is allergic to particular objects.
To identify asthma tendencies among patients, allergists use these two tests. Spirometry is a simple in-office test performed using a spirometer. The patient must breathe in and out of the instrument to test their lung performance.
The bronchoprovocation challenge is another test that involves inhaling cold air or aerosolized chemicals or performing some exercises.
Doctors can recommend a food challenge or elimination diet test to identify food allergies. In the food challenge test, the patient has to consume a tiny amount of a particular type of food to see if there's any allergic reaction.
An elimination diet test is a lengthy procedure where specific suspected allergens get eliminated from the diet for three to six weeks. Then, gradually, they are reintroduced one at a time to check which allergen triggers a reaction. The elimination diet test is particularly effective in identifying gluten and lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.
As per the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, allergies cannot be cured completely. However, depending on your allergy, treatment options might be available to manage your allergic symptoms. An example is immunotherapy, a preventative treatment for people allergic to pollens, dust mites, and bee venom.
This method involves gradually dosing the patient with the allergen they are allergic to. It may cause the immune system to produce a 'blocking antibody,' which reduces allergy symptoms when the patient encounters that substance again. These incremental increases eventually help the immune system become less sensitive to that allergen. Therefore, immunotherapy may decrease the risks of a severe allergic reaction and help patients live more comfortably.
Only in some cases will individuals outgrow their allergies. Children, for example, may be allergic to foods like soy, eggs, milk, or wheat when young, but they might outgrow these allergies when they become adults. It is important to note that outgrowing your allergies is not guaranteed, and it is difficult to predict when or how a person will outgrow their allergies.
Many believe seasonal allergies are mostly prevalent during spring when pollen counts are high. However, women face unique challenges when it comes to allergies that men may not experience. Understanding the common allergens affecting most women is crucial to avoiding the symptoms these allergies cause.
While most people experience mild to moderate allergy symptoms such as skin rashes, itching, watery eyes, and a runny nose in their lifetime, others may experience a more severe allergic reaction. This is called anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock and can be life-threatening if not treated immediately.
Such severe reactions may occur in one part of the body or happen in the whole body at the same time. Anaphylaxis typically happens suddenly without much warning and progresses quickly. They can occur within seconds or minutes after exposure to the allergen. Some severe reactions may occur after several hours, mainly if the allergen is a food and leads to an allergic reaction after it has been consumed. In very rare cases, reactions develop after 24 hours. It is also important to note that a second anaphylactic reaction, also known as a biphasic reaction (a second wave of symptoms after the first symptoms go away), can occur 12 hours after the initial reaction has happened.
In this state, anaphylaxis begins affecting a patient's breathing and/or cardiovascular system, and the patient can lose consciousness. Some common symptoms include- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, a rapid or weak pulse, nausea and vomiting, swollen lips, throat, nose, or tongue, wheezing, trouble swallowing, sudden drop in blood pressure, increased heart rate or weak pulse, tightness in the throat, sudden weakness, and cardiac arrest.
If you or someone experiences the symptoms of an anaphylactic shock, seek emergency medical care immediately. Make a call to 911 or a local emergency number right away. If you have allergies and your doctor has given you an epinephrine auto-injector, it should be taken as soon as you start feeling a severe reaction. Note that it is necessary to see your doctor or an allergist even if your symptoms subside.
Individuals with allergies who have never experienced an anaphylactic reaction have the possibility of experiencing it in the future. Those who have asthma, certain conditions like heart disease and mastocytosis, or have had a previous severe allergic reaction are at risk of having one in the future as well.
While the best way to prevent anaphylaxis is to avoid the allergen causing it, there are some other ways that you can take precautions and be prepared in case of an emergency:
During allergy season, it's essential to reduce your exposure to allergens. Here are some tips to help you breathe easier:
Allergic reactions are individual-specific, i.e., one person may be allergic to a specific food substance. In contrast, another member in the same family may not be allergic to that same food element. Thus, a competent allergist studies each case with minute attention to identify the root cause of the allergic complication.
Now that we have identified how they can help, let's find the best allergist in your area — Silver Spring, Maryland. Zocdoc is a portal that helps connect the right specialist with patients using an extensive doctor directory. Patients can find doctors by filtering using search parameters like location, condition, symptoms, gender, language, etc.
Additionally, Zocdoc allows you to filter your search only to find in-network allergists who accept your insurance plan. You can do so by manually entering your insurance plan on the website/app and filtering your search results. If this does not help you find your particular health plan, you can upload a photo of your insurance card. Once you upload a photo, Zocdoc will scan the image of your card and show you a plan that best matches your card. Note that this option is available for medical insurance cards only. Dental and vision are excluded. If you need help uploading your insurance card, contact Zocdoc's service team, which is available 365 days a year to answer all your queries. You can also visit Zocdoc's patient help center for answers to other insurance-related questions.
Following your search terms, an extensive list of doctors will appear. Patients can identify the best specialist by checking individual doctor profiles that contain their educational qualifications, accreditations, awards, expertise, and, most importantly — verified patient reviews.
After filtering and a thorough examination, you can book an in-person or virtual consultation with your chosen provider. When ready, go ahead with a hassle-free appointment scheduling process on Zocdoc and choose from different appointment slots — same day, after 24 hours, and on the weekend.
All bookings through Zocdoc are safe, secure, and free.
According to a 2018 study by the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America, more than 50 million people in the U.S. get different types of allergies yearly. The same research reveals that nearly 24 million people in the U.S. suffer from hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis).
Almost 90,000 emergency patients yearly complain of severe food-related allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Food allergies in kids aged 0-17 increased from 3.4 % to 5.1% between 1997 and 2011. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states this in a 2013 research. This is a 50% increase.
A 2020 Medscape report states asthma affects about 300 million people globally. Based on another 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dataset, Maryland had about 451,158 current asthma cases. Whereas the mortality-adjusted death rate per million is 11.2.
Roughly 40% of the U.S. population is affected by allergic conjunctivitis. However, only a small percentage of affected people seek medical care. Urticaria affects around 14-25% of the general population, with young adults most exposed to this allergy.
The eight most typical food allergens cause 90% of food allergies in the U.S. Here are the food items: milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, fish, wheat, and crustacean shellfish. In Maryland, the main allergens are tree pollen, mold, grasses, ragweed, pets, and dust mites.
Women's Health Research Institute
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology[1]
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology[2]
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology[3]
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology[4]
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.