As Winter Arrives, Family Allergy Clinic Announces A No-Shots, No-Hassle Solution For Coughs
Tempe, Arizona (PRWEB) November 26, 2014 -- Everybody gets a cough from time to time, but if it doesn't let up or if it temporarily subsides but returns repeatedly, there may be something more to it. Chronic cough is a prime symptom of allergies, but it doesn't have to be a lifelong curse. Thanks to a treatment offered by the Family Allergy Clinic in Mesa, overcoming allergy-related coughing may be easy and painless.
The Family Allergy Clinic uses sublingual immunotherapy (under-the-tongue allergy drops) to help diminish patients' allergy symptoms. Allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy) have been used for years, but they have plenty of drawbacks: The injections themselves can be painful, and because they must be administered under physician supervision, they require patients to drive to the doctor's office multiple times a week.
Allergy drops work much like shots—using a serum designed to desensitize the body to pollens and other allergens. But instead of being injected into the skin, the serum absorbs into the bloodstream through special cells in the mouth. And because the drops are safer than shots, they can be taken in the comfort of home.
Many respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing and asthma, can have their root in allergy. According to Stuart Agren, M.D., medical director of Family Allergy Clinic, it's crucial to treat the underlying allergy for lasting results.
"A lot of people have been prescribed every antibiotic, cough suppressant and inhaler available, but the problems just keep returning until the patient gets help for their allergies," said Dr. Agren.
Agren said that allergy treatment can help correct these problems by "teaching" the immune system not to overreact to harmless allergens in the environment in ways that lead to inflamed airways, excessive mucus production, etc. And for some patients, that can be life-changing.
"I had a gentleman in the other day who competed in Senior Master's track and field events, but became totally incapacitated due to allergies," said Dr. Agren. "He was on oxygen, and he couldn't sleep at night because his coughing and wheezing were so bad. He'd tried most every medication over the course of two years but had not yet consulted an allergist."
After using under-the-tongue drops, the patient's symptoms dissipated, and he was able to discontinue his laundry list of medications.
Allergy drops have been widely prescribed as a more user-friendly alternative to shots since the 1980s. In Europe, about half of all allergy treatment is administered through drops rather than shots.
"Shots can be impractical in this busy day and age," said Dr. Agren, who has been prescribing allergy drops in his Mesa clinic for nearly 30 years. "Drops are easy to stick with for adults and kids alike."
As peak flu season arrives, not all coughs are associated to cold or flu. Coughs that last for more than a couple weeks or that tend to get worse or recur after exposure to allergens (pollens, pet dander, etc.) may be allergy-related. Patients should consult a physician about getting an allergy test if they suspect that their respiratory problems are caused by allergies.
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Family Allergy Clinic
3048 E. Baseline Road, #122
Mesa, AZ 85204
Phone: 480-827-9945
Dr Stuart Agren, Family Allergy Clinic, http://www.familyallergyclinic.com, +1 (480) 827-9945 Ext: 102, [email protected]
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