Suffering From Allergies in the East Valley
Millions of people, maybe even you, struggle with allergies every day and feel that there is no real remedy. Even more suffer from allergies and don’t even know it because none of the typical symptoms are present.
Let’s look at a real case, a 60-year-old middle school teacher.
Even a Trip to the Mayo Clinic Couldn’t Help Regain Energy
For over 25 years, this middle school teacher had zero energy and extreme fatigue. He visited Warner Family Practice and sat down with one of our providers and shared that he had seen several medical professionals, he had taken all the tests, he had seen numerous subspecialists, he had even visited the Mayo Clinic and no one had been able to diagnose the reason for his fatigue.
We examined the patient’s lab work and nothing in the lab work indicated what could be causing the issue, but he heard something in his patient’s voice that was cause for concern; an extreme nasal tonality. Despite no indication in the lab work, including an absence of any anemia or thyroid issues, our team felt confident that the patient’s symptoms were allergy related.
After looking at the nasal passages which were completely swollen shut, we was able to diagnose the cause of the fatigue as allergy related. He was prescribed the sublingual allergy drops and upon his next visit two months later, the patient shared that he was feeling 95% better. He was truly unrecognizable from the man that had been in the office only several weeks earlier. As an added benefit to the return of his long lost energy he was finally able to get back outdoors and hike with his sons and in a short time he lost 15 pounds and was able to substantially cut back on his diabetic and antihypertensive (blood pressure) medications. Anyone who lives with diabetes or a blood pressure condition will tell you that this is a very significant change for the better.
Most patients that are suffering from chronic allergies are tired and many have no real idea what is causing it.
What Are the REAL Symptoms of Allergies in the East Valley?
The moral of this little anecdote is that allergies are so much more than just having a stuffed up or itchy nose. Yes, these are very common symptoms but they are not the only symptoms of allergies.
There are several additional symptoms which you could be experiencing which may mean you are suffering from allergies. The list below is meant to be a guide. If you have suffered chronically from any of the items listed, schedule an appointment with one of our providers and start the journey to recovery and feeling great again.
- Fatigue–this is one of the most common symptoms that people simply do not realize is associated with allergies. When you suffer from allergies your body is constantly combating and fighting the things to which you are allergic. Fatigue can be one of the worst symptoms of allergies because there is no real way to fight it other than treating the allergies. You can sleep all you want but fatigue due to allergies is not going to be relieved with sleep.
Grogginess–another common factor is grogginess a fog in your thinking. Allergies impair your ability to focus and concentrate. We’re not exactly sure why the “allergic fog” exists, but it does and it’s impact is very real. As a matter of fact, many people diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have been diagnosed by experts with allergies. This can be caused by your head being stuffy, your eyes being itchy or could be a combined effect of your fatigue. This is another symptom that you often cannot fight and instead need to find the root cause. - Itchy, Watery, Eyes–another factor to look for is watery and itchy eyes. This is often caused by your eyes being irritated by the allergens that are present in your environment every day. Your body is working overtime to try and combat these allergens so that you can feel better but often it is so bombarded by these allergens that it cannot keep up. Itchy eyes may be a sign that something is irritating your body and that it is getting into your system through your mucus membranes.
- Itchy, Runny Nose–this is another symptom that is very common. When your body takes in allergens they are often presented to the system through the mucus membranes, of which your nose is the main mucous membrane. You may have a nose that runs as your body tries to push the allergen out or you may have an itchy nose as it is being irritated and bothered by these substances.
- Shortness of breath–asthma is triggered by allergies in almost all cases. Nearly everyone who is diagnosed with asthma will find allergies to be the cause. You may not consider that you have asthma but when you experience shortness of breath with allergies, your windpipe is constricting, preventing the proper amount of airflow. This can ultimately evolve into full blown wheezing, leading to the need for an inhaler.
No matter how your symptoms present themselves, it is important to take the time to see someone trained in allergies to see what options are available. On your first visit for allergy treatment at Warner Family Practice, you may be skin tested. Once the results are determined, you can receive your first sublingual allergy drop treatment during that office visit.
Allergy drops are self-administered at home, under the tongue, and typically work more quickly than allergy shots and have a greater impact on diminishing or eliminating symptoms of allergies.
Schedule an appointment today and begin experiencing relief. You can schedule your appointment by calling 480.831.8457 or logging in through our secure portal.
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