Allergy awareness

Many absences from school and work are due to allergies and asthma

Credit: Tony Glenn | Blue Ridge HealthCare

Pat Hoyle of Morganton has suffered from allergies since the fourth grade, but they got really bad when she moved to North Carolina in 1985. She began getting allergy shots at Dr. Hart’s office two years ago, and she says it’s been a miracle. “Now I get outside. I can cut my grass, work with my flowers,” she said. “As long as I keep getting my shots I’m fine."

By: Sponsored article by BlueRidge Health Care | Morganton News Herald
Published: May 06, 2010

MORGANTON --

May is National Asthma and Allergy Month. More than 60 million people living in the United States suffer from allergies and approximately 15 million of those have asthma.
"It's a significant problem," said Elzie F. Hart, MD, a board certified ENT and fellowship trained allergist with Blue Ridge ENT, Allergy and Facial Plastic Surgery. "More than 3.5 million school and work days are missed a year due to allergy symptoms. This is one of the most common reasons for absence."
For one Morganton resident, allergies were so severe she almost became disabled. "In fact, I became partially deaf in one ear because of an infection," said Pat Hoyle, who has been seeing Dr. Hart for about two years. "Once I moved to North Carolina in 1985, I was having ear infections and sinus infections all the time."
Allergy is not just a nose problem. It may also include fatigue, pain, headache, sinus problems, stomach disorders, itching or clearing of the throat, red itchy eyes, lack of concentration and chronic coughing or wheezing.
An allergy is the body's sensitivity to substances called allergens. The body has an immune system that produces antibodies to defend against infection, disease and "invaders" like these antigens.
When an allergy sensitive person is exposed to one or more allergens an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE) is activated causing the release of inflammatory chemicals. "This causes allergy symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, runny nose, stomach problems, and skin and food reactions," Dr. Hart said.
Allergens can enter the body in several ways. They can be inhaled (tree & ragweed pollen, mold spores or animal dander & dust mites); swallowed (food or medicine); absorbed through contact with the skin; or injected (like penicillin or insect venom).
If there is a family history of allergy the chances of developing an allergy are increased. If one parent is allergy sensitive his or her child has up to a 50 percent chance of having allergies. If both parents suffer the probability may be as high as 70 percent. It has been found that allergy sensitive children may also have non-allergic parents.
"Studies show that allergies, if left untreated, can cause learning disorders, asthma, and emotional problems as well as the other well known symptoms," Dr. Hart said.
Food allergies and sensitivities can interact with inhalant allergies.
A doctor certified in Allergy Immunotherapy can determine a person's specific sensitivities and the degree of these sensitivities beginning with a detailed patient history. Your allergy doctor may then suggest having skin or blood testing to further evaluate your problems, and then determine which is best for your symptoms. These tests are performed in the office and allow the patient to return to work or school immediately following the tests.
Once the results of your history examination and testing are reviewed, the doctor will decide the best suited approach for you. Avoidance of the problem allergens when possible is one approach; another is the use of prescribed medications or bronchodilator (for asthma) and the last is immunotherapy (allergy injections).
Hoyle began getting allergy injections two years ago. "It's a miracle the difference in how I feel," she said. "Now I just hear everyone else complain about their allergies. The shots really make a difference."
MORE INFORMATION
Dr. Elzie F. Hart specializes in ENT and Allergy Immunotherapy. Blue Ridge ENT, Allergy and Facial Plastic Surgery, located at 353-B East Parker Road, Morganton, is a member of Blue Ridge HealthCare Medical Group. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy and Board Certified in Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery. For more information or to make an appointment, please call (828) 580-6410.
INTERVIEW ON YOU TUBE
To see an interview with Dr. Hart, visit Blue Ridge HealthCare on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/BlueRidgeHealthCare