Denver’s
Allergy Experts
Allergies impact more than 50 million people in the United States. For many, this is simply an inconvenience – a little sniffling and sneezing and a few extra tissues lying around. But for others, allergies can be debilitating. You can’t work or go outside. You constantly feel fatigued and uncomfortable. It’s like a chronic illness. If this is you, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Advanced ENT & Allergy Center, we offer allergy treatments that work – alleviating symptoms by starting at the source of your allergies.
Allergy symptoms
are more than
a runny nose
We all know about the itchy eyes and runny noses, but have you ever thought your chronic cough or headaches could be due to allergies? We often treat people with certain discomforts who never considered allergies as the culprit. Now – they’re experiencing freedom from these symptoms for the first time in years.
We Treat These Symptoms
How do I know if allergies are the cause?
An in-office, hour-long skin test can tell us:
- If you have allergies
- What you are allergic to
- How severe your allergies are
We can test anyone over the age of three. If intradermal allergy testing is not an option for you or your child, we can do a blood test to identify your allergies.
A Pioneer in the Allergy Industry
Our doctors offer effective and convenient allergy treatments. One of our doctors, Dr. Menachof, was the first to bring allergy drops (sublingual immunotherapy) to Colorado, and we continue to be a leader in allergen immunotherapy. If done consistently, our allergy treatments are successful long-term solutions to your allergies.
Treatment Process and Options
If you're struggling with allergies but aren't sure what is causing your reaction, schedule an appointment for testing. An in-office, hour-long skin test can confirm the severity of your allergies and what you're allergic to.
Once allergies are confirmed, we help patients find ways to avoid allergens by suggesting changes in diet and lifestyle.
To help reduce symptoms, we can prescribe medications (like antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays) to help reduce allergic inflammation.
An alternative to allergy shots, allergy drops are an easy and convenient way to get rid of your allergy symptoms. With daily drops under your tongue, your body slowly learns not to react to allergic stimuli.
What are the benefits of using drops versus shots?
Immunotherapy allergy shots have been around longer, and they are highly successful. However, with allergy shots – patients have to commit to a weekly 30-minute office visit, every week, for around four years. Most people have a hard time completing this time of treatment. Allergy drops are just as effective as shots, but with a much higher completion rate. You can take your drops anywhere, anytime, and with the same proven results. Most of our patients are using allergy drops instead of shots, and it’s changed their lives. The drops are sent to patients every three months so the only time required is a once a year visit to make sure the treatment is working correctly.
We want you to experience success with your treatment plan – we’ll work with you to decide on the right path.
Helping Patients Find Lasting Results
When treating patients, general allergists address allergy problems, but do not treat nasal issues. Some ENT doctors treat nasal issues but send patients to general allergists for their allergies. Our doctors are ENT doctors and fellows in the Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy. This means they can address all of the possible causes of your congestion and discomfort.
Frequently Asked Allergy Questions
An allergy is an abnormal reaction to an ordinarily harmless substance (called an allergen)such as tree pollen. When an allergen enters the body of an allergic person, that person’s immune systems views the allergen as an invader. White blood cells of the immune system produce IgE antibodies. These antibodies attach themselves to special cells called mast cells, causing a release of potent chemicals like histamine. These chemicals cause symptoms – a runny nose, watery eyes, itching and sneezing.
Allergies can affect anyone. While it’s true that allergies are more common in children, they can occur for the first time at any age. Although we don’t understand the exact genetic factors yet, heredity is definitely linked to the tendency to allergies, as well as to allergic disease.
Since a hyperactive immune system causes allergies, most people with allergy symptoms respond to allergens present in every season (trees in the spring, grasses in the summer, ragweeds in the fall, and mold in the winter).
Thousands of ordinary substances can trigger allergic reactions. These are called “allergens.” Among the most common allergens in Denver are plant pollens, molds, household dust (dust mites), animal dander, foods, medicines, and insect stings.
A pollen count or a mold count is the number of pollen or mold spores in a cubic meter of air. When pollen counts are high, people with hay fever will experience intensified symptoms. High mold count symptoms include: sneezing, itchy throat and eyes, runny nose, congestion, coughing, and dry, scaling skin.
Allergen immunotherapy is an allergy treatment where tiny amounts of allergens are given to a patient (either injections or oral drops) for 3-5 years. By gradually increasing the amount of extract, tolerance to the offending allergen increases and symptoms are alleviated.
There is a big difference in the side effects for allergy drops versus allergy shots. Allergy shorts have a small but not insignificant chance of anaphylaxis. This usually means that a 30-minute observation is required any patient receivesa new bottle of shot serum. Allergy drops, on the other hand, have never had a reported case of anaphylaxis and are a significantly safer form of immunotherapy. The most common side effects for allergy drops are itchy mouth or an increase of a patients’ normal allergy symptoms.
Allergy drop treatment works by delivering a slowly increasing dose of FDA approved antigen that, over time, builds the body’s tolerance. Allergy drops affect specialized cells in the immune system. Research shows these cells are a friendly and effective route for long-term desensitization, making allergy drops an ideal option for patients who can’t receive allergy shots due to time constraints and/or medical conditions.
Sublingual allergy immunotherapy costs a comparable amount to prescription allergy medicationand are oftenless expensive than a one-month supply of over-the-counter allergy medications. Although not all insurances cover allergy drops, we can process your drops through your health savings account or flex account.
Allergy shots work, as long as you can commit to a weekly office visit for 4-5 years. Patients who have committed to the duration of the treatment experience long-term relief from their allergy symptoms.
Allergy shots work by delivering a slowly increasing dose of FDA approved antigen that, over time, builds the body’s tolerance. Allergy shots cause your body to make blocking antibodies, stopping the allergic reaction from taking place.
The cost of allergy shots depends on your insurance. Some insurance plans may cover 100%, and some may require a copay or a deductible. Talk to your insurance company before you commit to this treatment plan.
Irregular exposure to allergens can lead to the production of antibodies (called IgE-mediated antibodies). The presence of these antibodies can lead to an allergic reaction. In allergy shots or allergy drops, we regulate exposure to the allergen. This leads to the production of blocking antibodies (called IgG antibodies) and a decrease in the level of allergic or IgE-mediated antibodies.
Environmental allergies can trigger migraine headaches. Doctors are still trying to understand this process, but there are many theories as to why allergies and migraines are linked. Some of these include: Sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and histamine. With a combination of sinus and allergy treatments, our doctors have been very successful treating patients who suffer from allergies and headaches