The American Allergy Crisis
Living with allergies can be life altering and painful. It is most certainly expensive. Estimates suggest that at least one in every four Americans suffer from some type of seasonal or food allergy. According to the FDA, about 1.5 percent of adults and up to 6 percent of children younger than three (3) years of age (4 million Americans approximately) have food allergies alone.

There are the obvious symptoms; runny nose or breathing difficulties/congestion, but there are also less obvious signals such as chronic sinus infection, conjunctivitis, nasal polyps and chronic ear infections. Even asthma, COPD, hives, and eczema are treated symptomatically as a chronic illness when they are actually the body's allergic reaction to antigens in the environment.

WHAT IS AN ALLERGY? An allergy is an overreaction of the body's immune system to an ordinarily harmless substance. Allergies are not just seasonal. They exist throughout the year, indoors and out, and affect all ages. They can impair performance, interfere with sleep, diminish cognitive and physical skills and even become life threatening if not treated. Many things in every day life can trigger an allergic reaction, including animal dander, household dust or mites, foods, trees, grasses and molds. YOU ARE AT RISK!

Allergy Statistics

• In the United States, allergic asthma affected over 6.8 million in 1980, 13.7 million in 1994, 22 million in 2005 and over 50 million Americans suffer from allergy diseases today.
• Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic disease in the United States costing billions of dollars annually, (AAAAI)
• Over 17 million annual medical office visits are attributed to allergic rhinitis. An increasingly large portion of this number are pediatric.
• IF A PARENT HAS ALLERGIES, THEIR CHILD IS MORE THAN FIFTY PERCENT (50%) LIKELY TO HAVE ALLERGIES. IF BOTH PARENTS HAVE ALLERGIES, THE CHILDREN ARE MORE THAN EIGHTY PERCENT (80%) LIKELY TO SHARE AN ALLERGY DISEASE.

In Vitro Testing ‑ CLA Allergy Test
is the newest technology on the market that allows professionals to perform a simple laboratory blood test (NO MORE SKIN PRICKS) to establish a diagnosis. Our provider or nurse will simply draw a small amount of blood during your office visit, test the sample in our lab and have results back within days. You will then be notified and scheduled for a visit in clinic with our allergy provider where the analyzed results will be reviewed with you.

What Should I do Next?                              Simply Answer the Following Questions!

If the YES answers to the questions below concern you, CALL 255‑0500 and make an appointment. Our patient services staff will take you through the procedure and investment for completing the CLA Allergy Test.

ALLERGY DIAGNOSIS & PARTIAL HISTORY: Symptoms ‑ Please circle Yes / No indicating the symptoms you, or a family member you are concerned about, have experienced.

Yes or No    Hay Fever / Sneezing / Runny or Stuffy Nose / Itchy Eyes
Yes or No    Sinus Problems / Nasal Drip / Night Coughing / Ear Problems
Yes or No    Wheezing or Asthama / Headache / Phlegm or Mucus
Yes or No    Hives / Severe Acne / Eczema / Rashes /Abdominal Symptoms
Yes or No    Exercise Intolerance Yes No Shortness of Breath or Fatigue

After Eating:
Yes or No    Tingling in the mouth or Swelling of tongue or throat
Yes or No    Drop in blood pressure / Dizziness or Loss of consciousness

General:
Previous allergy testing: When and Why__________________________
Please list things that cause an immediate reaction, including medications: ____________ ____________      ____________     _____________     ____________      ____________

Are four or more of the above sympto ms persistently a  problem?   Yes or No

How long have symptoms persisted?     0‑1 Year       1‑5 years       5‑10 years 1      0+ years

Times of year your symptoms worsen?   Spring / Summer / Fall / Winter / All

Symptoms worse? AM or PM       Indoor or Out                    Do you have pets? Yes or No