CTMC Hill Country Health - Winter 2013 - (Page 4)

Do You Have Seasonal A H Answers to your ere in Central Texas, the cooling temps and shorter days signal the beginning of the fall season of wonderful outdoor activities and festivals. For many, however, the change in season also signals another bout of allergies. An estimated 36 million Americans wake up each morning with a runny nose, itchy eyes and a scratchy throat, all symptoms of seasonal allergies. Michael Blair, DO, Allergy/ ENT, Live Oak Health Partners, says there is relief. “For 99 percent of patients with allergies, it is not a lifeand-death situation but rather a quality-of-life issue,” he says. “Don’t waste your life suffering needlessly. You don’t have to put up with it.” According to Blair, testing is a crucial ﬁrst step to solving allergy issues. “Discovering what allergens are causing problems and to what level provides the pathway for personalized immunotherapy,” he says. Once allergens are realized through testing, Live Oak Health Partners offers a couple of treatment options: Allergy shots can be administered on a weekly basis in the physician’s ofﬁce, providing relief by changing a person’s immune system so that they are no longer allergic to the allergens. Also, sublingual immunotherapy, often called allergy drops, is gaining in popularity. The drops are placed under the tongue and can be taken at home. CTMC volunteer coordinator Belinda Gardner and her husband, Bob, an auxiliary volunteer, enjoy being outside and reminding allergy sufferers that they don’t have to stay indoors. 4 Central Texas Medical Center • www.ctmc.org http://www.ctmc.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CTMC Hill Country Health - Winter 2013

CTMC Hill Country Health - Winter 2013
Da Vinci-assisted surgery advancing healthcare
Cedar Fever Reliever
Healthy Holiday cooking

CTMC Hill Country Health - Winter 2013