Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
In Florida, we’re blessed with having full blooms year long, but with those beautiful green trees, grass, and brightly colored flowers, allergy and asthma symptoms are also year-long.
Allergies
An allergy to something is an immune response. Many people are allergic to pollen, pet dander, dust, mold, ragweed, and of course, certain foods. Your body tries to fight off any harmful substances or pathogens, but sometimes, it’s unable to do this on its own. Many people require allergy medications, topicals or sinus sprays. When it comes to seasonal allergies, sometimes rinsing the sinuses daily can help remove some pathogens from the sinus cavity.
As we become allergic to substances, especially in the case of food or medication allergies, it can be life-threatening to encounter those again. These types of allergies increase in the severity of the reaction each time we are exposed. If you are allergic to certain foods or medications, it’s imperative to speak to your physician about an EpiPen or other ways to prevent anaphylactic shock.
Asthma
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 26 million people have asthma, and allergic asthma is the most common type affecting 60% of sufferers. Allergic asthma has the same symptoms as asthma but is the result of what the body is having an allergic reaction to, which causes bronchial inflammation. Allergies can trigger the body’s immune response through skin absorption and contact, inhalation, ingestion, infusions or injections.
When a substance enters the body like dust mites (a common allergen), the antibodies, which are proteins bind to the allergen to defend itself. This causes an immunoglobin E (IgE) release. The E stands for Eosinophils. If too much IgE is in the body, it will produce allergic reactions like hives, itching eyes, nasal congestion, vomiting, a swollen mouth or anaphylaxis to name a few. It can also trigger asthma, which is a narrowing of the bronchial system and inflammation of the lungs, which makes it difficult to breathe. Too many eosinophils will trigger a white blood cell response and cause asthmatic wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and in severe cases, the inability to breathe.
To control allergic asthma, the doctor must determine precisely what the allergens are, and treat those, along with managing the patient’s asthma. A blood test can be given to determine how many eosinophils are in the blood and their trigger.
Well-Being Medical Center of Naples
Preventative Care: Our office offers all standard routine health exams for all patients. If further testing is needed, we will create a comprehensive plan to help each patient reach their optimal health.
Health Consultations: Our staff is composed of health professionals who are experts in their field. We work with our patients through one-on-one consultations to prioritize health goals and address any health concerns.
Patient Satisfaction: Our top priority is patient satisfaction. We go the extra mile to create and execute on individualize treatment plans to make sure each patient understands their heath journey from start to finish.
Contact Well-Being Medical Center of Naples today at (239) 315-7801.
Dr. Ricardo Martinez
Dr. Ricardo Martinez is an internist in Naples, FL and is affiliated with NCH Baker Hospital. He received his medical degree from Superior Institute of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba and has been in practice 20 years. He also speaks multiple languages, including Spanish. He specializes in hospital medicine, ambulatory care and is experienced in hospice and palliative medicine, bariatric medicine, diabetes mellitus, food allergy, and infectious disease. As of March 16th, 2020, Dr. Martinez has founded Well-Being Medical center in Naples Florida. He is looking forward to providing Medical care within primary care settings and urgent care service throughout the Naples Florida area.
239-315-7801
www.well-beingmedicalcenter.org
851 5th Ave. N. Suite 102, Naples, FL 34102
