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Allergies, English, Health, News

What you need to know about food allergies and your child

No parent wants to see their child suffer. As a parent, one of the worst fears is that one’s child will or has developed a food allergy. Whether inherited or not, food allergies are more common in children, with research showing that about 40% of children with food allergies are usually allergic to multiple foods. If you suspect that your child might have food allergies, then you need to have them tested as soon as possible by scheduling an appointment. The earlier the detection the better in improving your child’s quality of life. The three most common food allergies are milk, egg and peanut, in that order.

Symptoms of food allergies will vary from person to person, and according to which food was consumed. Some common symptoms include vomiting, upset stomach, hives, rashes, itching, and tingling lips. Severe life-threatening symptoms can sometimes occur, and if difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or fainting is experienced, immediate medical attention needs to be sought.

Identifying food allergies can sometimes be complicated, especially if symptoms are relatively mild. Many parents experiment with elimination diets to identify specific food allergies, but this can sometimes be dangerous without a doctor’s guidance. Testing by a board-certified allergist is recommended because the process will be performed in the safety of a doctor’s office. Testing is done by obtaining blood samples or by performing skin testing. If you suspect your child has an allergy, schedule your appointment today. to see an allergist. Start a diary before the appointment and keep track of what symptoms your child experiences and what you think causes them.

Unfortunately, antihistamines like Benadryl won’t treat food allergies. When one or more food allergies have been confirmed, you need to ensure that your child avoids any contact with those particular foods. This will entail reading labels thoroughly, informing your child’s school of these specific restrictions, and teaching your child the importance of avoiding the offending foods.

Reading food labels can sometimes be confusing because food ingredients can be listed in other forms. For instance, “natural flavorings” may contain allergens, even though that particular allergen isn’t listed in the ingredients. However, more and more food manufacturers are placing allergy warnings on their labels that alert consumers that their products contain one or more common allergens. If you’re ever unsure whether or not a food contains one of your child’s allergens, it’s better to be safe and call the manufacturer.

Food allergies occur frequently in children, and if one or more allergies are identified in your child, then he or she can still live a high-quality life. As long as you ensure that the food allergens are strictly avoided at all times, your child should be healthy and happy. To make allergy avoidance even easier, manufacturers are introducing new and improved allergy-free products. This can make snacking and eating on-the-go easy, regardless of what your child might be allergic to. Our board-certified allergists are the best-qualified specialists to determine the sources of your child’s potential allergen. Schedule your appointment today.

-Lukena Karkhanis, MD

Source: FARE Food Allergy Research & Education

April 10, 2019/by allergysa
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Allergies, English, Health

The Most Common Ways That Pollen Gets Into Your Home

If you suffer from frequent allergies, keeping pollen out of your home is vitally important. Doing so ensures that you feel yourself when you’re home and can avoid battling allergy symptoms such as a scratchy throat, runny nose and itchy eyes. Here are a few ways that pollen commonly finds its way into a home and how to keep it from happening.

Pollen In Your Hair 

Having pollen in your hair will cause you to experience allergies no matter where you are, but this is especially true at home. For example, if you go to bed with pollen in your hair, it is then transferred to your pillow and blankets, where it can continue to bother you for days to come. Get in the habit of washing your hair often, and especially every night before you go to bed, and you’ll soon notice an absence of allergy symptoms as you fall asleep and wake up in the morning.

Coming In On Your Pets 

As lovable as they are, pets are the perfect carriers for pollen. As you let them inside and outside, pollen sticks to your pet’s hair, just as it does to yours, and also to their paws. You can easily fix this problem by brushing your pet outdoors before you let them into your home and wiping their paws off each time they approach the door.

Through Open Windows 

Unfortunate as it is, especially during the most beautiful times of the year, keeping your windows closed is the best way to keep pollen out of your home. However, be sure to keep an eye on your local pollen forecast for days when pollen levels are low. On these days you can often get away with opening your windows for a while and enjoying the fresh air without the worry of excess pollen getting into your living space.

Negative Air Pressure 

When negative air pressure exists, it means that your home is sucking outside air in through the cracks in your doors and windows. This is caused by leaks in the heating and cooling ducts of your home. If you’ve had a long-term problem with pollen getting into your home, have a professional take a look your home’s ducts and check for leaks. Fixing this negative pressure will instantly create a cleaner and pollen-free living environment.

If you think any of these common causes of pollen in the home apply to you, then simply take the measures to fix them and you will be much more comfortable. By keeping your windows closed when pollen is high, washing your hair regularly, fixing negative air pressure and making sure your pets are clean, you’ll have a pollen-free living space that you can fully enjoy.

April 1, 2019/by allergysa
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Allergies, English, Health, Illness

San Antonio Ranked The #5 Most Challenging U.S. City To Live In With Pollen Allergies

San Antonio has been ranked the #5 most challenging U.S. city to live in with pollen allergies, according to the Spring Allergy Capitals Report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).

The city jumped from the 22nd spot in 2016 to the 5th spot in 2018 because of the report’s findings on the following factors:

  • Pollen and mold counts
  • Allergy medication usage
  • Availability of board-certified allergists

San Antonio is not the only South Texas city to make the top of the list. McAllen, Texas came in at #1 followed by: #2: Louisville, Kentucky, #3: Jackson, Mississippi, and #4: Memphis, Tennessee. See the full 2018 Spring Allergy Capitals report here.

According to Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of AAFA, the report, “helps people in these areas be more aware of what may contribute to their allergy symptoms, so they can work with their health care providers to get relief.”

The board-certified allergists and medical professionals of AllergySA are committed to caring for adult and pediatric patients with asthma, allergy and immunology issues in San Antonio and South Texas. With the right treatment plan, seasonal allergies can be managed for better quality of life.

If you have never been tested for seasonal allergies, contact AllergySA at (210) 616-0882 to set up a new patient appointment today.

May 22, 2018/by allergysa
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Allergies, English, Health, Illness

Cold vs. Allergies

Are you reaching for the tissues with a runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing several times a day? Before you go straight for the cold medicine aisle in your local pharmacy, here are some tips to help you determine if your symptoms are being caused by a common cold or seasonal allergies.

A common cold is caused by a virus and will generally last 7 to 10 days. Symptoms include a sore throat, coughing, sneezing, and a runny or stuffy nose. Fever, fatigue, aches and pains may also be experienced.

Allergy symptoms are immune system responses to allergens (such as pollen) and can last for weeks, or as long as the person is exposed to the allergen. Symptoms include itchy eyes, sneezing, and a runny or stuffy nose. A cough and sore throat may also be experienced, but never a fever.

It is always best to check with a medical professional to determine the cause of your symptoms. If you are experiencing allergy symptoms, make an appointment with one of our board certified physicians today by calling 210-616-0882.

If allergies are the culprit, the best way to handle your symptoms is to know exactly what is causing them. This can be done through an allergy skin test in our office. For more information on what to expect during an allergy skin test procedure visit: https://allergysa.com/what-expect. 

December 29, 2017/by allergysa
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Allergies, English, Health

Preparing for Summer Allergies and Asthma

Are you prepared for allergies and asthma this summer? Learn more from Allergy SA’s Medical Director Joseph D. Diaz, M.D. as featured on San Antonio Living.

Book Now at 210-616-0882.

May 30, 2017/by allergysa
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Allergies, English, Health

Local Elementary Students Compete with Animal Allergy Alert App

This week, Dr. Diaz was invited to speak with the Robotics Team of Spicewood Elementary. This talented group of students from the Southwest Independent School District are preparing for a competition where they will present their project titled the Animal Allergy Alert App.

As a part of their research, the students wanted to speak with a specialist who could help them better understand the causes, symptoms and treatments of animal allergies. Dr. Diaz was thrilled to speak with the group about common types of animal allergies as well as symptoms ranging from mild local reactions to severe anaphylaxis.

Dr. Diaz and the students discussed how avoidance is the number one treatment for allergies and how their Animal Allergy Alert App plays a role in that treatment. They also discussed other treatment options such as the use of antihistamines and epinephrine.

Allergy SA wishes the Spicewood Elementary Robotics Team the best of luck on their upcoming competition this March.

If you believe you or a family member has an allergy to animals, contact Allergy SA for an appointment today at (210) 616-0882.

February 9, 2017/by allergysa
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Allergies, English, Health

Tips For An Allergy-Friendly Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner and this year we would like to make it safe and enjoyable for all, including those with food allergies. Here are some tips for an allergy-friendly Halloween:

  • If your child has food allergies:
    • Host a Halloween gathering with non-food items such as glow sticks, bracelets, pencils, bubbles, spider rings, vampire fangs and bookmarks.
    • Trick-or-treat with your child to monitor what items they are receiving.
    • Play it safe and do not allow your child to consume unlabeled food items.
    • Be prepared with your EpiPen® Auto-injector in the event of an emergency.
  • If your child does not have food allergies you can still make Halloween inclusive for all trick-or-treaters by joining the Teal Pumpkin Project® and following these tips:
    • Place a teal pumpkin outside of your house to indicate that you are offering non-food items such as bracelets, stickers, glow sticks, and spider rings.
    • Give trick-or-treaters the option of a candy or a non-food item for those with food allergies.

If you suspect your child has food allergies, please call AllergySA at (210) 616-0882 to schedule an appointment with a board-certified allergist. Same day appointments are available.

October 20, 2016/by allergysa
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Allergies, English

Top 5 Tips for Managing Grass Allergy

1. Don’t mow the lawn, delegate. If you can’t let someone else mow the lawn take an antihistamine before mowing.

2. Keep your grass short so that it won’t pollinate. (Grass pollinates through the air.)

3. Check your local pollen count every day. High grass pollen count days are not a good time to outdoors so avoid outdoor activities. As you can see, we have had a lot of wet weather recently, so grass pollen counts have been low.

4. Cool, your home with drapes, closed blinds, and air conditioning. Keep the windows shut to keep out grass pollen, which pollinates for most of the summer.

5. After spending a few hours outside change your clothes.

6. If antihistamines alone don’t help enough, visit Allergy SA and ask about different grass allergy treatment. You might be a candidate for allergy drops (SLIT).

Bright side, the grass-pollinating season ends with the arrival of August.

May 14, 2016/by allergysa
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Allergies, English, Health

Asthma?

As a chronic condition, asthma requires that you work closely with a physician to manage and control its symptoms.

Signs and symptoms can include:

*Shortness of breath
*Coughing
*Wheezing
*Chest tightness

“Triggers” for asthma can vary person to person, and may not always be identifiable. Some triggers include:

*Allergens such as dust mites, pollen (from trees, grass, and weeds), mold, animal dander, or cockroaches
*Irritants such as tobacco smoke, chemicals, sprays, dust, or air pollution
*Respiratory illness such as a cold or flu
*Physical activity
*Cold air
*Strong emotions or stress

Suffering from asthma or is your asthma currently out of control? Call us today at 210-616-0882, same day appointments available!

May 5, 2016/by allergysa
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Allergies, English

Common Allergy Symptoms

  • Fatige
  • Frequent headaches
  • Post nasal drainage
  • Itching of the nose
  • Recurrent ear infections
  • Recurrent cough or bronchitis
  • Chronic sinus infections
  • Itching, watering, redness, or swelling of the eyes.
  • Tightness in the chest, wheezing or asthma
  • Eczema, skin rashes, itching, or hives.
May 2, 2016/by allergysa
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LOCATION INFORMATION

Medical Center

2414 Babcock Rd #109
San Antonio, TX 78229

Medical Center AllergySA - 2414 Babcock Rd #109, San Antonio, TX 78229
Clinic Hours

Monday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am – 7:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am – 12:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am – 12:00pm

Allergy Shot Hours

Monday: 8:00am – 4:40pm
Tuesday: 8:00am – 4:40pm
Wednesday: 8:00am – 6:15pm
Thursday: 8:00am – 4:40pm
Friday: 8:00am – 11:40am
Saturday: 8:00am – 11:40am

Stone Oak

19016 Stone Oak Pkwy #250
San Antonio, TX 78258

Stone Oak AllergySA - 19016 Stone Oak Pkwy #250, San Antonio, TX 78258
Clinic Hours

Monday: 8:00am-5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am-5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am-5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am-5:00pm

Allergy Shot Hours

Monday: 8:00am – 4:40pm
Tuesday: 8:00am – 4:40pm
Wednesday: 8:00am – 4:40pm
Thursday: 8:00am – 4:40pm

Southside

7500 Barlite Blvd #106
San Antonio, TX 78224

South Side - AllergySA.com - 7500 Barlite Blvd #106, San Antonio, TX 78224
Clinic Hours

Monday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am – 12:00pm

Allergy Shot Hours

Monday: 8:00am – 4:40pm
Tuesday: 8:00am – 4:40pm
Wednesday: 8:00am – 4:40pm
Thursday: 8:00am – 4:40pm
Friday: 8:00am – 11:40am

CONTACT INFORMATION

OFFICE: (210) 616-0882  | FAX: (210) 692-7833

© Copyright - AllergySA.com | Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Associates of South Texas
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