Allergies

What causes allergies?

Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to substances that are typically considered harmless to your health.

When you come into contact with pet dander, pollen, or other allergens in your environment, your immune system produces histamines that cause physical symptoms like watery eyes and sneezing.

Peridot Primary Care specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic allergies. Allergy testing is available onsite to help identify which substances trigger an allergic reaction in your body.

The providers tailor a treatment plan to minimize the severity of allergy symptoms. They also recommend strategies you can use to avoid known allergens in your daily life.

When should I seek medical attention for allergies?

Mild allergies are often manageable with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter antihistamines. If these medicines aren’t working or you have moderate to severe allergy symptoms, schedule a consultation with the Peridot Primary Care team.

The providers offer personalized care plans to help manage allergy symptoms like:

• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Skin rash
• Runny nose
• Nasal congestion
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Persistent cough

You should also seek medical attention if you have anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to substances in your environment or the foods you eat. Anaphylaxis causes sudden airway inflammation that makes breathing difficult and can cause serious complications without immediate medical intervention.

How are allergies treated?

Peridot Primary Care offers a variety of treatments to ease existing allergy symptoms and prevent allergy attacks from occurring, including:

Medications

If over-the-counter antihistamines aren’t working well to manage or stop allergy symptoms, the providers might recommend prescription medicines, including oral pills and nasal sprays.

Those who experience anaphylaxis also need to carry an epinephrine pen, which contains injectable medications that quickly reverse airway inflammation during an anaphylactic episode.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy involves introducing your immune system to small amounts of known allergens over several months to change your body’s response to the substance.

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes are an essential part of an allergy treatment plan. Based on which substances you’re allergic to, the Peridot Primary Care team recommends strategies you can use to avoid contact with known allergens.

This may include staying indoors with the windows closed when pollen counts are high and reading food labels to prevent food-related allergy issues.

Call Peridot Primary Care today to schedule an allergy testing appointment or book a consultation online.