Immunotherapy for Airborne Allergies
About Allergies
Allergies are an abnormal response of the immune system to a usually harmless substance called allergens. When exposed to an allergen, the body starts to produce a specific type of antibody, called IgE. Together the allergen, lgE and blood cell (specifically mast cells) join, causing the mast cells to release a variety of chemicals into the blood. This response releases a chemical within the body called a histamine, which allows you to feel common allergy symptoms.
Allergies and asthma impact 1 in 5 Americans and have an estimated economic impact of $7.9 billion per year due to the cost of direct care and lost work.
About Allergen Immunotherapy
Allergen immunotherapy is a process that addresses the root cause of allergies rather than just the symptoms. It involves introducing increasing amounts of an allergen to a patient and decreasing their sensitivity over time.
We’ll test you on-site for the 48 most prominent airborne allergens, including common tree and grass pollens, weeds, molds and animals. The test is safe, minimally invasive, and produces results within 15 minutes.
About United Allergy Services
We work with United Allergy Services (UAS), a well-established leader in home-based immunotherapy, to offer our on-site allergy testing and treatment. Founded in 2009, UAS currently works with practitioners in 20 states to offer long-term allergy relief, having conducted more than 525,000 allergy tests and served over 325,000 patients. Visit their website for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the benefits of allergy testing and immunotherapy?
One in five people suffer from symptomatic allergies. These symptoms can vary greatly from minor discomfort to severe disability. The cost of allergies can be significant when factoring in lost productivity and days off from work and school. Combined with expensive drugs that serve only to mask the symptoms, the average cost to patients can be upwards of $2,000 per year.
Is immunotherapy effective in eliminating allergies?
Yes, immunotherapy is very effective in greatly decreasing or even eliminating the symptoms of allergies. Up to 85% receive a complete cure or a noticeable reduction in allergy symptoms.
Is immunotherapy effective for children?
Yes, in addition to being 85% – 95% effective, allergen immunotherapy has been shown to prevent the development of asthma.
Which allergens will I be tested for?
You will be tested for the most frequent geographically specific seasonal and perennial allergens in your area. You will be tested for dust mites, proteins from pet hair and dander, trees, grass and weed pollens, molds and cockroach allergens. UAS does not test or treat for food or stinging insect related allergies.
What is the typical patient profile for allergy testing and immunotherapy?
The typical immunotherapy patient suffers from seasonal environmental allergies. Further, the immunotherapy patient may have only experienced partial benefits or had unsuccessful experiences with standard allergy medications that failed to provide a solution. Finally, the patient needs to be willing and capable of complying with the requirements of an immunotherapy program.