If you are sneezing, wheezing, coughing, or itching all over due to strange-looking rashes, then you must be having an allergic reaction to something in your environment. An allergy flares up when your immune system reacts to an allergen, which could be anything ordinary from food, dust, pollen, bee stings and the like. This exposure can trigger the list of symptoms mentioned above. However, in severe cases, it can cause hives, low blood pressure, difficulty in breathing, asthma, and the worst-case scenario is even death.
Allergies can range from mild to life-threatening, making it a serious health issue. Those who are suffering from allergies whose symptoms cannot be treated by over the counter medication need to see an allergist, who is a doctor specializing in allergies. Finding the right allergist can help you manage your issues and help you live a better quality of life. Here are some things you have to consider when looking for one in the San Diego area:
Look for a Board Certified Professional
All doctors are not created equal. You have to pick the best one who has the right specialization, such as the practitioners in Premier Allergy. Choosing the one with the right credentials certified by The American Board of Allergy and Immunology is critical to finding good care.
This means that after their general training, these physicians have to do fellowship training in the field of allergies, which takes another two or three years. After this training, the allergy doctor has to pass a series of rigorous exams before being given the certification.
Moreover, in order to maintain the certification, these allergists are required to stay updated with current research, guidelines, and medical evidence. Throughout the course of their careers, allergists must take additional tests and fulfill continuing education requirements.
Find One the Comes with Good Recommendations
You should also check with your primary care physician about an allergy specialist recommendation. On top of that, you must also get referrals from people that you know and trust. It is critical to do your research when looking for an allergist who you can trust and feel comfy with. In general, people who are happy with their physicians will not hesitate to give you a recommendation.
Check Out the Allergist’s Website
In order to get a true and comprehensive glimpse of their treatment, you must check their website. Aside from dispensing medication, allergists go and look for the root source of your health issues. They search for triggers in the environment that could be exacerbating your symptoms. Apart from that, they give advice and educate all their patients, so they can control your flare-ups and exposure to environmental triggers. The site will also indicate if they offer allergy testing in their facility or if you will have to go elsewhere for the skin pricking tests.
Take Note of the Care Management Team
If you’re looking for a great allergist, you also have to look at his or her care team. the physician assistant, nurses, and other people in his team who shall be performing all your diagnostic tests and teaching you how to use medicines also play an important role in your choice of hiring. According to Premier Allergy, when you’re deciding on an allergist provider, you don’t just look at the doctor but the whole team because they all affect one another.
Make Sure You Feel Comfortable with Their Style
This is often overlooked but this is very critical because your relationship with your allergist and the care team shall be long-term, so you have to pick someone who you are comfortable with. A good allergist will spend a lot of time with you, reviewing your history, and explaining why things happen, and dispensing good advice. If you find that an allergist and his or her team has an awesome bedside manner who is easy to talk with, then you have found the right one.
As you can see, it is critical to find the right set of people who will care for you. Allergies impact the quality of your life. If you cannot get it under control, it can lead to more complications. Do yourself a favor and find a good allergist to manage and treat your health conditions. You will need someone who will listen to and validate your concerns.