Allergy Testing & Treatment in Mt. Airy and Kernersville, NC
From seasonal sneezing to year-round congestion, allergy symptoms can hold you back from daily life. Our team offers testing, diagnosis, and treatment, including allergy immunotherapy, all in the same office you already trust for pulmonary and sleep care.
Request an AppointmentWhat Are Allergies?
It’s probably not something you think about, but every time you breathe, tiny particles from the environment enter your body. Normally, your immune system reacts to genuine threats like bacteria and viruses. But sometimes it mistakes harmless particles, or allergens, for a threat and attacks them, triggering the symptoms of an allergic reaction: a stuffy or runny nose (rhinitis), sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes. These symptoms can be caused by outdoor or indoor allergens.
If you or a family member deal with sneezing and itchy eyes, you’re far from alone. As many as 50 million people in the United States are affected by allergies, and symptoms can interfere with the activities you enjoy most.
Allergens May Include:
How Can Allergies Affect You or a Family Member?
As anyone with allergies knows, symptoms can make it hard to get through daily activities. Symptoms from a pollen allergy, known as hay fever, can range from mild to miserable, and people don’t always realize their sneezing or runny nose is caused by an allergic reaction to pollen in the air or a nearby pet.
More severe allergy symptoms are sometimes mistaken for illness:
People with allergies may not realize how much their symptoms are affecting daily life. Many avoid certain activities, places, or having a pet, and some miss school or work or have trouble concentrating. For those with the most severe cases, allergic reactions can even be life-threatening.
How Are Allergies Diagnosed?
If you schedule an appointment to discuss allergy symptoms, or bring it up during a routine visit, your provider will ask a number of questions about your symptoms and health history, such as:
- What are the symptoms?
- How long have you been experiencing symptoms?
- What time of year do symptoms occur?
- What seems to cause symptoms?
A physical exam follows. If allergic rhinitis is suspected, your provider may perform a skin or blood test to help pinpoint the cause of your allergies, working closely with you to create a treatment plan tailored to you or your family member.
There Are Several Ways to Treat Your Allergies
Complete Allergen Avoidance: It’s often advised to avoid the allergens that trigger your reaction, though it isn’t always possible.
Medications That Treat Symptoms: These offer effective, though temporary, relief. Examples include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal steroid sprays, cromolyn sodium (an anti-inflammatory medicine), eye drops, and other medicines your doctor may recommend. Some are available over the counter, while others require a prescription.
Allergy Immunotherapy (AIT): Thought to work with your body’s natural defenses, AIT is recommended for people who cannot avoid their allergens or who aren’t satisfied with their current symptom medications.
Allergy Immunotherapy (AIT)
The basic approach to controlling an allergy sounds easy, just avoid the allergens that cause symptoms, but that isn’t always possible. This is where AIT can help, working with your body’s natural defense system. AIT slowly trains your immune system to be less sensitive to allergens by introducing tiny amounts of the allergen over time, so your body becomes less reactive.
As a result, when you’re exposed to the allergen during normal daily activity, your immune system doesn’t overreact, which can mean fewer allergy symptoms overall.
Forms of AIT: There are two common types, allergy shots and sublingual (under the tongue) tablets.
Is AIT Right for Me? AIT may not be right for everyone. It can cause increased allergy symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, and hives, and administration has been associated with severe, life-threatening systemic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Serious reactions may include trouble breathing, throat tightness or swelling, trouble swallowing or speaking, dizziness or fainting, rapid or weak heartbeat, severe stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, or severe flushing or itching of the skin. These symptoms require immediate medical attention. If you have asthma, it should be well controlled before starting AIT, since you may be more likely to experience serious side effects. If AIT is right for you, you and your provider will design a treatment plan together.
Related Care at Our Practice
Allergies can sometimes overlap with breathing and sleep concerns. If you also experience shortness of breath or asthma symptoms, learn more about our pulmonary services, and if allergy congestion is affecting your sleep, visit our sleep medicine page. New to our practice? Start with our New Patients page.
Allergy Treatment FAQs
How do I know if I have allergies or a cold?
Colds typically resolve within a week or two and may include a fever, while allergy symptoms, like sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny or stuffy nose, tend to last as long as you’re exposed to the allergen and don’t cause a fever.
What is allergy immunotherapy (AIT)?
AIT trains your immune system to be less reactive to specific allergens by introducing small amounts over time, through allergy shots or sublingual tablets, potentially reducing symptoms long term.
Is allergy testing painful?
Skin testing typically involves a series of small, superficial pricks and causes minimal discomfort. Blood testing, if needed, only requires a standard blood draw.
Can allergies affect my breathing?
Yes, allergies can trigger or worsen asthma symptoms. If you experience wheezing or shortness of breath along with allergy symptoms, our pulmonary team can evaluate you further.
How long does allergy immunotherapy take to work?
AIT is a gradual process, and many patients notice symptom improvement over months as their immune system becomes desensitized to specific allergens.
Are allergy medications safe to take long term?
Many over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications are safe for regular use, but your provider can help you choose the right option and monitor for any side effects.
Can children be treated for allergies here?
Yes, our team evaluates and treats allergy symptoms in both adults and children, with treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs.
Find Relief From Your Allergy Symptoms
Let our team help identify your triggers and build a treatment plan that fits your life.