The sneezing, sniffling, watery eyes, and fatigue that comes with allergies interfere with your quality of life. At Total Health Primary Care, PLLC, in Selma, Texas, you can get treatment like immunotherapy for bothersome allergies. Allergy testing and immunotherapy help you find relief so you can enjoy every day. Call for an appointment or use the online tool to schedule.
Immunotherapy Q & A
What is immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a treatment for allergies that exposes you to a purified version of an allergen to help you build up immunity and reduce symptoms. Exposure happens gradually over a long period of time, so you don’t have a dramatic reaction.
You can receive immunotherapy orally or via injection.
Why would I consider immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is an effective treatment, especially if medications and avoiding triggers fail to help you find relief from allergies. Symptoms that suggest you have an allergy include:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Watery eyes
- Irritated skin
- Digestive distress
Some of these symptoms feel like a cold, but if you experience them periodically, at the same time every year, or in response to certain triggers, they’re likely an allergy. Also, allergies don’t have fever and chills associated with them.
Immunotherapy is also helpful to those who have allergic asthma. It can reduce sensitivity to triggers, helping you avoid asthma attacks due to allergies.
How do allergy testing and immunotherapy work?
Allergies occur in response to a trigger. Your immune system views a normally harmless compound as a threat and reacts, resulting in allergy symptoms. Common triggers include pet hair, dust mites, insect bites, tree pollen, and mold.
Allergy testing involves applying the suspected allergen to your forearm. After a short period, if you experience a reaction, you get an allergy diagnosis before leaving Total Health Primary Care, PLLC. Your provider can test for 72 of the most common allergens in Texas and the surrounding area.
In some cases, blood testing is the most effective way to determine specific allergies.
Am I a candidate for immunotherapy?
The providers at Total Health Primary Care, PLLC, consider immunotherapy for you if conservative treatments, like trigger avoidance and medications, fail to help you. Factors that influence your eligibility for immunotherapy include:
- The length of allergy season and severity of your symptoms
- Your desire to avoid long-term medication use
- Your ability to commit to long-term immunotherapy treatment
- Type of allergy (immunotherapy cannot treat food allergies)
Before undergoing allergy testing and immunotherapy, you fill out a consent form that lists suspected allergens, your use of allergy medication, and symptoms. That helps inform your diagnosis and treatment.
If you suffer from allergies, contact Total Health Primary Care, PLLC. Call today for an appointment or use the online tool to schedule.