Conditions and Symptoms
Hay Fever - Allergic Rhinitis
People with hay fever experience symptoms after breathing an allergy-causing matter, such as pollen or dust. In the fall, a common allergen is ragweed. In the spring, the most common causes of hay fever are grass and tree pollen.
Symptoms
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. It has no known cure. But by identifying what causes asthma and developing a proper management plan, asthmatics can lead a healthy and active life. Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts during childhood. Exercise-induced asthma is triggered by physical activity. Asthma symptoms often increase or worsen at night.
When you breathe in, air passes from your nose and mouth to your lungs through a system of tubes referred to as airways or bronchial tubes, much like a tree trunk and branches. The trunk is the windpipe, which branches off to smaller airways called bronchi. People with asthma experience extensive narrowing of these airways throughout both lungs, resulting in symptoms that often include:
Asthma symptoms can occur daily, weekly, or infrequently and can range from mild to severe. This can be very frightening to people with asthma as well as their families. There are an estimated 17 million people in the United States with self-reported asthma. It is extremely important to seek medical attention for this illness. It is the most common chronic illness among children and, if left untreated or undertreated, asthma may result in a significant reduction in quality of life with potential loss of lung function, exercise limitation, difficulty sleeping, school or work absenteeism, costly emergency room visits and, in a few cases, death.
Although there is no cure for asthma, when properly diagnosed and treated with medications -- or when causes are identified and avoided -- the symptoms and permanent effect of asthma can be greatly reduced, if not eliminated.
As a board certified allergy and asthma specialist, Dr. Levy is specially trained to diagnose asthma after an extensive patient interview, physical exam, and a lung function test. In addition, Dr. Levy can identify the causes of asthma and prescribe a management plan that allows for a healthy, active lifestyle.
Hives
Hives, also known as urticaria, affects about 20 percent of all people. It can be triggered by many substances or situations and usually starts as an itchy patch of skin that turns into swollen red welts. The itching may be mild to severe. Alcoholic beverages, exercise, scratching, and emotional stress may worsen the itching.
Symptoms:
Eczema
Eczema is a term for a group of medical conditions that cause the skin to become irritated or inflamed. The most common type of eczema is known as atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis refers to a group of diseases that have a tendency to develop other allergic conditions, such as asthma or hay fever.
Anaphylaxis
Severe life-threatening allergic reactions (also called an anaphylactic reaction) are not common. But when they happen, they are to be treated as emergencies and you should get emergency treatment as soon as possible.
Symptoms can include:
Food Allergies
Symptoms can include:
Allergic Sinusitis
Symptoms can include:
If you notice multiple symptoms, you may also be suffering from food, seasonal, or other allergies, including runny nose (clear, watery mucus), sneezing, stuffy nose, throat drainage, dry or wet cough, ears stopping up or popping accompanied by decreased hearing, and/or itchy skin with or without the presence of a rash.
If you suspect you have allergies, please call Dr. Levy's office at 901-682-0430 for an appointment.
People with hay fever experience symptoms after breathing an allergy-causing matter, such as pollen or dust. In the fall, a common allergen is ragweed. In the spring, the most common causes of hay fever are grass and tree pollen.
Symptoms
- Runny nose
- Itchy eyes, mouth or skin
- Sneezing
- Stuffy nose due to blockage or congestion
- Fatigue (often reported due to poor quality sleep as a result of nasal obstruction)
- A group of symptoms affecting the nose
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. It has no known cure. But by identifying what causes asthma and developing a proper management plan, asthmatics can lead a healthy and active life. Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts during childhood. Exercise-induced asthma is triggered by physical activity. Asthma symptoms often increase or worsen at night.
When you breathe in, air passes from your nose and mouth to your lungs through a system of tubes referred to as airways or bronchial tubes, much like a tree trunk and branches. The trunk is the windpipe, which branches off to smaller airways called bronchi. People with asthma experience extensive narrowing of these airways throughout both lungs, resulting in symptoms that often include:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Chest tightness
Asthma symptoms can occur daily, weekly, or infrequently and can range from mild to severe. This can be very frightening to people with asthma as well as their families. There are an estimated 17 million people in the United States with self-reported asthma. It is extremely important to seek medical attention for this illness. It is the most common chronic illness among children and, if left untreated or undertreated, asthma may result in a significant reduction in quality of life with potential loss of lung function, exercise limitation, difficulty sleeping, school or work absenteeism, costly emergency room visits and, in a few cases, death.
Although there is no cure for asthma, when properly diagnosed and treated with medications -- or when causes are identified and avoided -- the symptoms and permanent effect of asthma can be greatly reduced, if not eliminated.
As a board certified allergy and asthma specialist, Dr. Levy is specially trained to diagnose asthma after an extensive patient interview, physical exam, and a lung function test. In addition, Dr. Levy can identify the causes of asthma and prescribe a management plan that allows for a healthy, active lifestyle.
Hives
Hives, also known as urticaria, affects about 20 percent of all people. It can be triggered by many substances or situations and usually starts as an itchy patch of skin that turns into swollen red welts. The itching may be mild to severe. Alcoholic beverages, exercise, scratching, and emotional stress may worsen the itching.
Symptoms:
- Raised itchy bumps, either red or skin colored
- Blanching (when pressed, the red hive turns white)
Eczema
Eczema is a term for a group of medical conditions that cause the skin to become irritated or inflamed. The most common type of eczema is known as atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis refers to a group of diseases that have a tendency to develop other allergic conditions, such as asthma or hay fever.
Anaphylaxis
Severe life-threatening allergic reactions (also called an anaphylactic reaction) are not common. But when they happen, they are to be treated as emergencies and you should get emergency treatment as soon as possible.
Symptoms can include:
- Hives that appear as a red, itchy rash
- Swelling of the face, throat, or mouth tissue
- Wheezing or trouble swallowing
- Restlessness and anxiety
- Rapid pulse
- Dizziness or a sharp drop in blood pressure
- Trouble breathing
Food Allergies
Symptoms can include:
- Skin rashes
- Stomach problems, such as vomiting or diarrhea
- Asthma
- Runny Nose
Allergic Sinusitis
Symptoms can include:
- Pressure in the face
- Thick green mucus
- Headaches
If you notice multiple symptoms, you may also be suffering from food, seasonal, or other allergies, including runny nose (clear, watery mucus), sneezing, stuffy nose, throat drainage, dry or wet cough, ears stopping up or popping accompanied by decreased hearing, and/or itchy skin with or without the presence of a rash.
If you suspect you have allergies, please call Dr. Levy's office at 901-682-0430 for an appointment.