Allergies Specialist
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Anil K. Gupta, MD
ENT located in Royal Oak, MI
You’re not alone if you suffer from allergies. In fact, millions of people experience allergy symptoms such as hay fever, postnasal drip, recurring ear infections, dizziness, and asthma. Allergies can appear at any age, and can even disappear in childhood, only to reappear in adulthood. Even stomach and intestinal problems, many skin rashes, chronic headaches, and fatigue can be symptoms of allergy. Anil K. Gupta, MD, at Gupta ENT Center in Royal Oak, Michigan, can diagnose and treat allergies affecting the ear, nose, and throat. Call or make an appointment online today.
Allergies Q & A
What are allergies?
Allergies are chronic diseases, often inherited, in which the immune system overreacts to something you eat or come into contact within the environment that doesn’t affect most other people. Allergies can be seasonal or year-round. They can be temporary or lifelong. Millions of people have allergies.
Allergens are substances that cause allergic reactions. The most common types of allergens include:
- Food
- Dust
- Pets
- Insects
- Mold
- Pollen
- Latex
What are allergy symptoms?
If you have allergies, your immune system creates the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE) to respond to allergens. The resulting allergy symptoms are an allergic reaction.
Common allergy symptoms include watery or itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, rash, or hives. Allergies can also cause chronic sinus problems, chronic cough, postnasal drip, head congestion, asthma, stomach and intestinal problems, and even fatigue.
Less common allergic reactions are more severe and include difficulty breathing, mouth or throat swelling, and a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.
How are allergies diagnosed and treated?
Allergies can be difficult to pinpoint because many of the symptoms are similar to the common cold and other health problems. Dr. Gupta will review your personal and medical history, perform an exam, and complete allergy testing to determine your allergies.
After your allergies all are identified, Dr. Gupta will discuss with you possible treatment options. You may simply avoid the allergens as treatment, or you may consider medication options. Another possible treatment could be immunotherapy.
What is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy trains your body to become less allergic through increasing doses of the substance or allergen to which you are allergic. It’s often used for grass pollen, dust mites, and bee allergies. The immune system is trained through immunotherapy to become less sensitive to the allergen and reduces allergy symptoms when you encounter that allergen in the future.
The three methods of immunotherapy are allergy shots, allergy drops, or sublingual immunotherapy. Allergy shots are the most commonly used and most effective form of allergy immunotherapy. It can prevent new allergies and asthma while changing the immune system to overcome existing allergies. Allergy drops are similar to shots in that they help your body build resistance against your allergens.
Dr. Gupta has extensive experience with sublingual drops which are usually not offered by the general allergist. The advantage of the drops is no need for a shot or weekly visit to the office.
Don’t let allergies interfere with your daily activities and prevent you from living your best life. If you experience allergies affecting the ears, nose, or throat, give Dr. Gupta at Gupta ENT Center a call to schedule an appointment.
