Allergic rhinitis - the congestion and nasal drainage you get with allergies -  is the sixth most common chronic disease in the US. Aside from being miserable and suffering the loss of income due to absenteeism, a much more costly aspect of allergic rhinitis is “presenteeism” - when you show up for work but are so miserable and distracted by your symptoms that your productivity decreases by as much as 30-50%. My role as an allergist is to not only treat the misery associated with allergic rhinitis, but also to reduce the loss of income to both you and your employer.  In the spring, tree and grass pollens cause the most severe itching in the eyes of all of the allergens. The best way to manage your allergies is to identify the cause of the allergy.   This is the first step in developing an effective treatment program.

Summer is when Wisconsinites are out of doors and having fun, and asthma might interfere with that fun. Of the common allergic disorders, asthma is the most likely to interfere with your life on a day-to-day basis, and even shorten it (in people with severe persistent asthma). A variety of studies over the past two decades have shown that asthma is an inflammatory disease, and the inflammation can cause scar tissue to form in your lungs.  This inflammation is much worse if allergies are not controlled well, by avoiding your allergens, treating your allergies with immunotherapy (“allergy shots”) or taking anti-inflammatory medications such as inhaled steroids. Please take a look at our video on asthma (also on this web site) for more information.