Allergy Treatments for Sufferers

Allergy sufferers are familiar with the discomfort that goes with persistent runny noses, streaming eyes, sneezing and blocked sinuses. They're also used to suffering through these symptoms on their own, often without medical care, because it can take weeks to schedule an appointment with their primary care physician.

With urgent care clinics, there's no waiting for an appointment. In fact, there's no need for an appointment at all. You can simply walk in and see a doctor without a long wait. Urgent care clinics accept most insurance plans and offer special low-cost treatment for people without insurance. Urgent care bills are typically one-fourth the cost of an emergency room visit.

Symptoms and Causes of Allergic Reactions

Because of their nature and duration, allergies are best treated in an urgent care setting. Unless the allergic reaction is extreme and life threatening, the emergency room is not the best option for allergy treatment.

Symptoms of allergic reactions include:

Runny nose and sneezing
Irritation and redness of the eyes
Shortness of breath
Stomach pain or bloating
Diarrhea and vomiting
Cramps
Rashes or hives; irritated, swelling or itching skin
Nausea or dizziness
Mental confusion, slow thinking, depression

Allergies can be particularly severe when they involve children and asthma sufferers.

Allergic reactions are caused by the body's immune system reacting to the presence of foreign particles. Some common allergens include:

Pollen
Cigarette smoke
Certain types of food, such as shellfish or nuts
Insect bites
Dust, mold, or mildew
Grass
Latex

Allergy Testing and Treatment

Urgent care clinics provide on-site allergy testing services, with results available within just fifteen minutes. The skin test for allergies is painless and quick. Once the cause of the allergic reaction has been determined, doctors can prescribe treatment.

Allergy treatments may include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays, eye drops, inhibitors, and allergy shots. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a convenient and effective alternative to allergy shots for certain types of allergens, like ragweed, dust, pollen, pets and grass. Also known as allergy drops, they avoid the side effects produced by other allergy medications. Allergy drops can be customized to treat individual patients.

Preventive allergy care may involve modifying the home or work environment to reduce or eliminate the presence of allergens. The use of dehumidifiers, air filters, purifiers and air conditioners can reduce indoor allergens.

Allergies are not fun. The one-stop convenience of urgent care centers means that your allergies can be brought under control and managed, to allow you to get on with your life. A professional staff will manage your scheduling efficiently, to ensure that you receive full follow-up care. When you put your allergies in the hands of a highly qualified staff, you have one less thing to worry about.

In case of a life threatening allergic reaction, like cramps and abdominal pains, sudden severe swelling that makes it difficult to swallow, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and shortness of breath, the patient should be taken to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Dr. Emad Yousef is the primary physician at Doctors Express in Tampa Bay, Florida. If you're suffering from allergies, visit Doctors Express urgent care center for immediate relief.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emad_Yousef

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