Why Do Doctors Perform Skin Prick Allergy Tests?

Allergies occur when a person's immune system misidentifies a harmless substance as a threat. The body manufactures histamine in response to the perceived threat, which leads to the allergy symptoms that people are familiar with: itchy eyes, hives, congestion, and a runny nose. Determining what causes your allergic reactions can be tricky, especially if you have multiple allergies. Fortunately, an ENT specialist can diagnose your allergies using testing protocols. Skin prick tests and blood tests are both reliable ways to gauge a person's response to specific allergens. Read More 

Household Tricks For Preventing Hay Fever

If you are suffering from persistent hay fever allergies, you may look to the outdoors for the sources of your grief. However, there may be other causes for your hay fever that are inside your home. While the plants that cause hay fever are usually not growing in your home, there are things you can do with your home that would contribute to hay fever allergy symptoms. Shampoo When Coming Inside Read More 

What Every Parent With A Peanut Allergy Needs To Know About Their Children’s Susceptibility

If you are allergic to peanuts, you may be wondering if your children will develop peanut allergies. Unfortunately, researchers have found that genes do play a role in peanut allergies. However, they've also found that it's not the only factor. Additionally, new peanut allergy treatments have been effective in preventing the onset of life-threatening peanut allergies in young children. Here's what you need to know.  Genetics & Epigenetic Changes  After studying the DNA samples of 1,315 children and their biological parents, researchers found a link to peanut allergies in a gene region on chromosome six, which is believed to play a role in the risk of the development of food allergies. Read More 

Rest Easy: Calm Your Nerves Before Your Sleep Test

Spending the night sleeping in a laboratory hooked up to sensors is not likely to be conducive to quality slumber, not to mention that there is a stranger monitoring your every brain wave and every breath you take. But it is important that you undergo this sleep test to find out if you have obstructive sleep apnea. Your ENT would not have you take the test if there was not reasonable cause to take it. Read More 

A Hearing Aid Will Improve Other Areas Of Your Life

The biggest advantage to getting a hearing aid is, of course, being able to hear better again. A hearing problem, however, usually ends up causing more issues than just not being able to hear well. Poor hearing usually affects other areas of your life that you may not have even noticed the gradual changes. Here are two ways getting a hearing aid can help improve your life. A Renewed Sense Of Security Read More