Allergies

Allergies can attack at certain seasons or linger year-round, producing uncomfortable symptoms that you wish would go away. If you need expert care for your allergies, Dr. Yasmeen Agha at Dominion Family Healthcare offers up-to-date treatments to relieve you of persistent symptoms. The practice is conveniently located in San Antonio. If you’re ready to put allergies behind you, call to schedule a consultation or book one online today.


Allergies Q & A

What are common kinds of allergies?

As many as 40-50 million Americans have allergies. Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to a substance or food. Allergies come in different forms, causing sneezing, a runny nose, and other symptoms that affect your quality of life.

Here are common types of allergies you might experience.

Food allergy

Food allergies can happen at any age, but are most common in babies and children. You can develop a food allergy at any time, even if you haven’t eaten a certain food or ingredient for years.

Skin allergy

Bumpy, red rashes are a common sign of a skin allergy. Various substances can trigger skin allergies, such as contact with a plant like poison ivy, certain foods, and medications.

Dust allergy

A dust allergy can cause year-around symptoms like itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing. Most dust allergies are related to dust mites, microscopic organisms that feed off house dust.

Pet allergy

Pet allergies cause an array of uncomfortable symptoms, ranging from sneezing to skin rashes. A pet allergy can provoke constant allergy symptoms at places a pet has visited, such as home, work, or school, even if the pet isn’t there any longer.

Insect sting allergy

A sting by a bee, wasp, hornet, yellow jacket, or fire ants injects venom into your skin, producing an allergic reaction. Though rare, stings cause life-threatening allergic reactions in 3% of adults and 0.4%- 0.8% of children.

How are allergies diagnosed?

Your doctor at Dominion Family Healthcare takes a detailed medical history, which will include asking you to describe when your symptoms started. You’ll want to tell your doctor if anyone in your family has asthma or allergies, including hay fever or skin rashes like eczema. To pinpoint the precise allergen or allergens causing your reaction, your doctor may recommend blood or skin tests.

What does allergy treatment entail?

The good news is several treatments are available to relieve your allergy symptoms. Your doctor may suggest you start taking allergy medications, such as:

  • Antihistamines: to relieve sneezing, watery eyes, a runny nose, and hives
  • Decongestants: to ease a stuffy nose
  • Corticosteroids: to treat inflammation in your nose

There’s no need to suffer from allergies when the right care can make you feel better and improve your quality of life. Call Dominion Family Healthcare today or schedule a consultation online.