Allergy & Asthma
Committed to improving the lives of those who suffer from allergy and asthma. Now offering Same-Day Allergy Skin Testing. We have offices conveniently located in Sedona and Flagstaff. Allergies and asthma can knock you down. See our asthma and allergy specialist and get your life back!
Our Services
Food Allergies & Sensitivities
Food Allergies & Sensitivities
Food Allergies & Sensitivities
Allergy & Asthma Services
We are thrilled with our new and comprehensive program to test and treat allergies! Our testing provides answers to your environmental allergy or asthma symptoms whether it is from animals, plants, pollen, trees, dust mites, molds or other epidermals.
We have adopted the Modified Quantitative method to effectively diagnose environmental allergies.
Now offering same day allergy skin testing!
We provide the most modern and effective allergy diagnosis and treatment available. We take pride in staying on the cutting edge and utilizing the most proven testing and treatment options.
There is no age limit to testing, and our team is well-qualified to put your child at ease during testing. Your allergy specialist will also provide you with valuable educational tips on how to control your allergy symptoms. It is our goal to provide you with all the tools that you need to alleviate your allergies.
What is Allergy?
The substances that trigger allergy are called allergen
Allergies are caused by an overreaction of the body’s immune system to substances that in most cases would otherwise be harmless.
Common triggers of respiratory allergic disease include pollen, house dust mites, molds and animal dander. Exposure can lead to a range of symptoms, including allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the upper airways), conjunctivitis (itchy, watery eyes), and allergic asthma (inflammation of the lower airways).
These symptoms can worsen over time if not treated appropriately, and allergic rhinitis is considered to be one of the major risk factors in the development of asthma.
Nearly half of all allergy sufferers are children.
The prevalence of respiratory allergic disease has increased over recent decades and is rising in both developed and developing countries. Globally, an estimated 400-500 million people are affected by allergic rhinitis and 40% of these are children.
It is estimated that 10-20% of allergic rhinitis sufferers have symptoms which are not well controlled despite the use of symptom-relieving medication and that less than one in ten of these receives allergy immunotherapy treatment.
Millions of work days lost
For many people, respiratory allergic disease has a significant impact on their quality of life, causing sleepless nights, shortness of breath and resulting in millions of lost school and work days.
However, there are several treatment options, including symptom suppressing medicines and allergy immunotherapy. Immunotherapy treats the underlying cause of allergy and allergic asthma and can offer long-lasting improvement by reprogramming the immune system to better cope with exposure to specific allergens.
Conditions & Symptoms
Common symptoms:
- Itchy, watery eyes, sneezing
- Chronic nasal congestion
- Chronic sinus infections
- Hives
- Post nasal drip, runny nose
We test for environmental allergies, which include:
- Weeds, grasses, trees
- Dust mite, molds
- Epidermals which includes cat, dog, horse, feather, cockroach
- We also test for dairy and wheat allergies
Testing & Treatments
We offer personalized allergy testing and immunotherapy.
- We can offer same-day allergy skin testing
- At home treatment option - sublingual drops
There are two ways of treating allergic rhinitis. Both have been shown to provide relief and put an end to discomfort and feeling ill.
Symptomatic treatment
Symptomatic treatments are typically used to relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis but only work while the medicine is being taken. They have no long-term effect on the allergy itself. This is because, while they reduce the symptoms of allergy, unlike immunotherapy, they do not induce allergen tolerance.
Most symptomatic treatments are available over-the-counter (OTC), for example, in supermarkets or pharmacies, and include pharmaceutical medicines such as antihistamines, nasal steroids and decongestants.
Immunotherapy treatment
Immunotherapy treatment has a long-term effect which offers a sustained improvement in the patient’s condition, sometimes for several years following treatment.
The main difference between symptomatic and immunotherapy treatment is that immunotherapy induces tolerance and so alters the natural course of the disease. There are immunotherapy treatments available for each of the most common respiratory allergens.
Allergic Asthma
Asthma and rhinitis are closely linked
The duration and severity of rhinitis have a direct influence on the development of allergic asthma and the likelihood of recovering from it.
Just like allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma is a condition that can be triggered by exposure to particular allergens, such as grass pollen, tree pollen, or house dust mites.
Whereas allergic rhinitis causes inflammation and irritation in the eyes, nose and the upper airway, allergic asthma primarily affects the lower airways. Symptoms of allergic asthma include wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and persistent coughing.
Asthma development more likely among allergy sufferers
Studies show that allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma are closely linked, with nearly half of respiratory allergy sufferers experiencing both.
Indeed, many people with allergic rhinitis go on to develop allergic asthma.
Treating allergy and asthma together
As a result, evidence increasingly suggests that, rather than being two separate conditions, allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma are caused by the same allergy and that treating – the allergy – can be beneficial for both conditions.
Asthma
Asthma
Whether you suffer from mild or severe asthma, there are effective treatment options to best control your asthma and get your life back!
Our asthma specialist, Lindsey Forstie,FNP, has many years of experience in asthma and allergies. She will take the time to learn about your specific condition and needs, and can formulate the best treatment plans and cutting edge asthma treatments to ensure success!
Not sure if you have asthma? If you experience difficulty breathing, coughing and/or wheezing, or a tight feeling in your chest, you may suffer from asthma.
Sometimes a chronic cough is the only symptom, and many of these cases go undiagnosed. The symptoms of asthma are most frequently noted at night and in the morning, but an asthma episode can happen at any time. Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening attacks which require immediate emergency treatment.
