Choosing an Asthma and Allergy Clinic
People who suffer from these two health conditions should check the asthma and allergy clinics found in their proximity. Here they are able to find doctors that are specialized in these diseases.

According to statistical data, allergy asthma patients represent 50 percent of the cases of asthma in the United States. This increased occurrence and the fact that both asthma and allergy affect the respiratory tract, determined doctors to realize that creating asthma and allergy clinics is something necessary. However, these two health conditions have many other things in common.

First of all, in an asthma and allergy clinic people can be diagnosed easily. If a person is believed to suffer from allergy, then the diagnosis consists of two tests. The skin prick test is performed in order to find out what allergen causes the allergic reaction. Next, the blood test is necessary for finding out the histamine and lgE levels. These two chemical substances are set free into the body soon after making contact with the allergen. In fact, these chemicals are responsible for the allergic reaction and for all the symptoms that appear.

The asthma diagnosis that is performed in an asthma and allergy clinic consists first of all in an analysis of the medical history of the patient. The doctor will want to know if during the last year the patient has experienced cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. In addition, the doctor wants to know whether the patient has asthma cases in his family. The health condition may be inherited and the doctor must know this. Pneumonia during childhood or allergy to pollen and mold are some health conditions that may precede asthma.

After finding out the answers to these questions, the doctor will perform the physical exam which consists of lung function tests. Some of the most frequent tests that may be performed during asthma diagnosis are spirometry and challenge test. Blood count and X-rays, as well as computerized tomography also represent tests that are used for discovering asthma.

After realizing the connection between the symptoms and the health conditions, the doctors at the asthma and allergy clinic will prescribe a treatment, according to the symptoms of each patient. Both asthma and allergy can have serious consequences if they are left untreated. After starting a treatment, the patient will return periodically to the asthma and allergy clinic, so the doctor can see if the dosage is appropriate and if the symptoms are improved.