Allergy 101

Our specialists are here to answer your questions and discuss the best course of treatment for your allergies.

What is an allergy?

The basic explanation:

Unfortunately, allergies are often overlooked, misdiagnosed, or simply regarded as nuisances not requiring proper evaluation and treatment. This leads to unnecessary discomfort, progressive exacerbation and complications otherwise avoidable with medical assistance.

At Northern Nevada Allergy, our highly trained team of doctors specializes in a number of allergy conditions. Services include evaluation and treatment in the following areas:

The technical explanation:

Unfortunately, allergies are often overlooked, misdiagnosed, or simply regarded as nuisances not requiring proper evaluation and treatment. This leads to unnecessary discomfort, progressive exacerbation and complications otherwise avoidable with medical assistance.

At Northern Nevada Allergy, our highly trained team of doctors specializes in a number of allergy conditions. Services include evaluation and treatment in the following areas:

Why do I have allergies?

Nobody knows exactly why we develop allergies. In fact, I like to refer to allergies as an “immunological mistake.” The same substances that are allergens for people with allergies typically don’t cause problems for people without allergies. Non-allergic people can breathe in the same microscopic bits of organic matter and eat the same foods to which allergic people react and have no problems. It certainly seems that people with allergies would be better off if their immune systems would just ignore the substances to which they are allergic.

Allergies are common

Allergy is our country’s single most common health problem and is responsible for more time lost from work and school than any other medical condition. It also limits social and athletic activities above all else—including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer, etc.

Who gets allergies?

Most kinds of allergy are hereditary. If there are allergies on both sides of your family, you have about an 80% chance of having sensitivities yourself. But the particular pattern of allergic responses and the substances responsible can vary a great deal from one family member to the next. For example, mom might have nasal allergy while son has skin or lung problems. And dad might be allergic to tree and weed pollens while daughter is allergic only to mold spores or particular foods.

If you have inherited the tendency to develop allergies, you can experience their initial onset at any age. It isn’t necessary to have had allergies during childhood to have them as an adult. But even if you are predisposed toward developing allergies, you might never experience their onset. Although there is a lot of speculation, the reasoning behind why susceptible people can develop allergy problems later in life is still unknown.

Allergy Assessment Quiz

Take the quiz to see if you might have allergies that you need to see a specialist for.

Allergy Symptoms & Causes

We provide you with a comprehensive list of symptoms and causes of allergies.

Diagnosing Allergies

Learn about the process of how we diagnose allergies in our patients.

Do I have allergies?

We answer some of your questions you might have when checking to see if you have allergies.

Did you know?

You cannot have an allergic reaction to a substance the very first time you are exposed to it.

Patient information

You can print and fill out our new patient form and medical record release form prior to your visit.

The Patient Portal is a secure, web-based system that allows real time access to certain elements of your medical record.

We have two offices, one in Reno and Carson City, to better serve our patients in Northern Nevada.

Ready to Schedule an Appointment?