Allergy Specialist Glendale & Burbank
Dr. Michael Bublik and his staff are committed to the highest quality patient care provided with compassion and personal attention, and the availability of the most advanced, innovative diagnostic and therapeutic technology and techniques. Patients come to our practice looking for relief of allergy symptoms that often interfere with the patients’ ability to enjoy life. In fact, one out of five Americans suffer from allergies. Computing to roughly 45-50 Million Americans.
With years of experience and expertise in the field of allergy and immunotherapy Dr. Michael Bublik can help relieve your symptoms and get you back to enjoying your life again. If you are someone who suffers from chronic allergies please contact us today! (818) 649-1433.
Frequently Asked Questions
Allergy Conditions We Treat
Allergy Services
What is Allergy?
One out of five Americans suffer from allergies, computing to roughly 45-50 million Americans suffering from allergy. For some, allergies are simply a short lived nuisance; however for millions it’s a life altering disease. The only treatment that reprograms the overreacting immune system is immunotherapy which involves gradual delivery of the substances that trigger allergies to acclimate the body to the world around it. An allergy is a reaction of your immune system to something in the environment or food that you may consume. People who have allergies often are sensitive to more than one thing.
Substances that often cause reactions are
- Pollen
- Dust mites
- Mold spores
- Pet dander
- Food
- Insect stings
- Medicines
- Food
Allergic rhinitis was once known as hay fever because workers would sneeze and develop nasal and sinus congestion when they worked around hay in the fields. Hay fever, asthma, and eczema are the most common symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Allergy symptoms appear when the body’s immune system begins to respond to a substance as though it were a dangerous invader (called an antigen or allergen). It does this by sending specific defenders called antibodies to the entry site. This results in a release of chemical mediators, such as histamine which is release from mast cells, directly into the bloodstream which cause changes in the body producing the symptoms that we feel.
Those symptoms are itching eyes, sneezing, nasal stuffiness, nasal congestion and drainage, and sometimes headache. Some people experience hearing changes, scratchy sore throats, hoarseness, and cough. Other less common symptoms include balance disturbances, swelling in face or throat tissues, skin irritations, and even respiratory problems and asthma.
Some allergy sufferers experience symptoms all year. Others find certain seasons bring on attacks. Allergy symptom control is most successful when multiple management approaches are used simultaneously. Minimizing exposure to allergens, managing symptoms with medications, and desensitization with allergy shots are all methods that can be useful in controlling allergic symptoms.
Medications properly used can be very helpful. Over the counter drugs can be beneficial, but some cause drowsiness. Sometimes prescription medications offer the best chance for good control.
Immunotherapy, or allergy shots, provide the only treatment method that can offer lasting relief or cure from allergies. Before beginning a series of such shots, allergy testing must be performed.
What is a Nasal Allergy?
The medical term rhinitis refers to a disorder often characterized by symptoms including an itchy and runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion from a variety of causes. One of the most common types of rhinitis is allergic rhinitis or “nasal allergy.”
Allergic Conjunctivitis (Eye irritation)
A clear, thin membrane called the conjunctiva covers your eyeball and the inside of your eyelids. If something irritates this covering, your eyes may become red and swollen and this is called conjunctivitis.
When an allergen is the cause of the irritation, the condition is called allergic conjunctivitis. Some common allergens include pollen from trees, grass and ragweed; animal skin and secretions such as saliva; perfumes and cosmetics; skin medicines; air pollution and smoke. Other causes of conjunctivitis are viral and bacterial infections.