When to Seek Medical Advice to Improve Your Quality of Life
Itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion and skin irritations can significantly impact your daily well-being. For some, over-the-counter allergy medications provide relief, helping to manage symptoms effectively. However, for many individuals, these issues persist, disrupting their quality of life. Identifying the root cause of allergies and having a medical treatment plan in place can be crucial to managing the condition.
According to Dr. Tamura, at Midwest ENT & Allergy in Sioux Falls, most patients seeking further evaluation have already tried various methods to control their symptoms with little success. “Many of our patients pursue allergy testing because they’ve exhausted their options and don’t know what else to do,” Dr. Tamura explains.
Midwest ENT & Allergy offers two types of allergy testing: a blood test or a skin prick test. Both are quick, effective, and cause only minor discomfort. Dr. Tamura notes, “Since we can easily and quickly test our patients in-office to pinpoint their specific allergens, we can explore advanced treatment options, set expectations and discuss the timeline for seeing real results.”
Beyond medications, patients can take steps to minimize their exposure to allergens and consider immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a long-term treatment option designed to reduce or eliminate symptoms to the identified allergens, decreasing the reliance on allergy medications. Immunotherapy options include allergy shots or sublingual (under-the-tongue) drops.
For Sioux Falls mother Kayla, watching her daughter, Kaylyn, struggle with chronic sinus infections was both difficult and frustrating. “Kaylyn has always loved being outdoors, but she was constantly getting sick—it was absolutely miserable for her,” Kayla recalls. It wasn’t until their family doctor recommended allergy testing that she considered allergies as the possible culprit. “I never thought her chronic sinus infections could be caused by allergies, but she tested positive for mold and pollen, which explained why she kept getting sick after being outside.”
After undergoing immunotherapy for the past six years, Kaylyn rarely experiences sinus infections, and her quality of life has improved dramatically. “Her symptoms have improved by about 95 percent, and we would do this again in a heartbeat,” Kayla says.
Dr. Tamura emphasizes, “If you’ve tried different solutions with no success, we have additional options. With thorough testing, we can create a plan to help you take control of your symptoms and explore treatments that could significantly improve your life.”
Midwest ENT & Allergy offers state of the art allergy testing and treatment in Sioux Falls; and provides comprehensive allergy testing, diagnosis and treatment, utilizing all the latest technology and techniques. For more information, call 605-336-3503 to schedule a consultation and determine your options.