Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Allergies

Allergists and immunologists diagnose and treat allergies and asthma. In terms of allergies, they’re specifically trained to identify those elements and situations that trigger allergies. Some common triggers include plant pollens, mold, dust (dust mites), pets, chemicals and food.

Common symptoms of allergies include:

• Itchy, watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Rashes
• Hives
• Vomiting

Some of the ways we treat allergies include:

• Medicine (for short and long-term relief)
• Allergy shots
• Immunotherapy to reduce inflammation

Asthma

Asthma is a disease that affects people of all ages. With asthma, the lungs become narrower and swollen, thus causing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. It can be controlled through medicine and by avoiding triggers that cause attacks.

Some treatments for asthma include:

• Anti-inflammatory medicines that reduce mucus production and swelling.
• Bronchodilators that relax airway muscles and facilitate air production.
• Biologic therapies that incorporate monoclonal antibodies to stop the processes of lung inflammation.
• Bronchial thermoplasty — a minimally invasive therapy that uses heat to reduce the number of asthma attacks. (For severe cases only.)

Learn more about our approach to bronchial thermoplasty.