HOW DO I KNOW IF I'M ALLERGIC?
Typically, if you experience a runny, stuffy nose, fits of sneezing, itchy eyes, ears, nose, or throat, coughing, shortness of breath or wheezing, especially after exposure to grass, trees, weeds, molds, dust, pets, or foods, you are probably allergic.

Seasonal bouts of symptoms especially in the Fall or the Spring are added indications, although many allergic people have difficulty year round. You may also find a clue in your family's medical history, because the tendency to be allergic is often inherited.

Allergy tests can tell you for sure if you are allergic, what you're allergic to, and how strong the allergies actually are.

HOW ARE ASTHMA AND ALLERGY RELATED?
Asthma is a lung condition that may be triggered by allergy. If you are allergic and also an asthma sufferer, contact with allergens (pollens, dust, animal dander, etc.) in your environment may cause an asthmatic attack. Suddenly, after exposure, you may be coughing, wheezing, or having difficulty breathing.

In addition, we now know that continued, untreated, allergies can lead to the type of inflammation in the respiratory tract that can ultimately cause asthma in a susceptible person.

IS THERE A SOLUTION FOR MY ALLERGY PROBLEMS?
Yes! Allergic people do not have to put up with annoying symptoms; asthma sufferers can lead normal lives. Each person's solution may be different:

Relief may be achieved by simple avoidance (easier to do with shrimp than with grass).

Medication may help by keeping your symptoms quiet. Your immune system can actually be changed to get to the root of your problem -- making you less allergic, so that you will not experience symptoms in the first place.

HOW CAN I BENEFIT FROM A VISIT TO THE ALLERGY & ASTHMA CLINIC OF NORTH BETHESDA?
Dr. Irons, will talk to you about your health problems. The specific details of your history will give him many clues as to how to progress. You may decide to have allergy testing to see the extent of your allergies. The results of allergy skin tests are available in 15-20 minutes. Additionally, breathing tests may be useful to help answer questions about possible, or known, asthma. These tests are all available at the Clinic and can be done on the same day as your initial visit; you'll know all the results before you leave.

You will have gained a better understanding of your health problems and your treatment options. You will have a plan of action tailored to your specific situation and health goals.

IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL THAT I SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T DO BEFORE I SEE DR. IRONS?
Call us at (301) 564-4090; ask for Donna, she schedules all our new-patient appointments. She will mail, FAX, or e-mail some material to you to help us make your first visit with Dr. Irons as thorough and efficient as possible. Please spend some time completing the forms and bring them with you at the time of your appointment.

If your health insurer requires that you have a referral from your Primary Care Physician, don't forget to get that. And antihistamines (Allegra, Clarinex, Zyrtec, and many others) interfere with allergy testing, so please stop these medications for 48 hours before your visit if at all possible. [Asthma medications are OK, and you can eat whatever you want.]

HOW DO ALLERGY INJECTIONS WORK? DO THEY BUILD MY IMMUNITIES?
Your course of injection treatment is designed to gradually change your immune system to get to the root of your allergy problems. As an allergic person, you develop increasing allergies as you breathe pollens, molds, dusts, danders, etc. When these same allergens are injected into you, your immune system makes protecting or blocking antibodies that will shield you from developing symptoms in the future. Granted, it's more complicated than that, but the goal is to change your immune system in a way that makes a remission possible.

WHAT'S IN THESE ALLERGY SHOTS, AND WHERE DO I GET THEM?
Your vaccines are prepared for you based upon the specific allergies uncovered by your history and allergy skin test reactions. Your treatment begins with low dose injections that will gradually increase in strength each week toward your specific High Dose.

Because the allergy vaccines contain materials to which you are allergic, they must be administered in a medical facility where a doctor is available. Some choose, for insurance or convenience reasons, to receive their injections at their Primary Care Physician's office. However, the majority of patient's come to Dr. Irons' office.

WHAT HAPPENS IF ALLERGY TURNS OUT NOT TO BE MY PROBLEM? CAN DR. IRONS HELP ME ANYWAY?
Dr. Irons is experienced with and treats asthma, regardless of its cause. He treats sinus problems, whether they're triggered by allergy or not. Obviously, non-allergic people don't need allergy injection treatment, but symptoms are treated the same way in the person with allergies as in person with none. Just read the contents of the over-the-counter medications that are being sold for "allergies" and those being sold for "the common cold". You'll see many of them have exactly the same ingredients.

If, for any reason, Dr. Irons feels that you would benefit from the care of another specialist (Pulmonologist, Otolaryngologist, Dermatologist, etc) he will promptly refer you to the appropriate, qualified office.