Allergies are one of the leading causes of chronic illness in the United States. They affect more than 50 million Americans each year and cost suffers billions of dollars. Most allergy sufferers are fooled into thinking that daily medications like antihistamines are the only solution to allergy symptoms, but it is actually possible to reduce your allergy symptoms and optimize your quality of life through natural and integrative practices.

Why Do Allergies Develop?

It is your body’s natural instinct to spark an immune response against anything it perceives as a harmful invader, pathogen, or foreign particle. This is a lifesaving instinct in most scenarios, but allergies develop when your body misidentifies something harmless as an invader and sparks an unnecessary immune response.

This type of immune system overreaction produces histamines, which alter the cells to allow white blood cells to eliminate the “attacker.” Histamines cause the inflammation that is at the root of most allergy symptoms.

Symptoms of Allergies

Allergies cause a variety of symptoms. Some are mild, but others can impact your quality of life significantly. You may be allergic to pollen, cat dander, mold spores, or certain foods. If your body is constantly creating an immune response to these triggers, your may suffer from chronic inflammation that increases your risk of infection and other health complications.

The most common symptoms of allergies include the following:

• Sneezing, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing
• Swelling and inflammation of nasal tissue and sinuses
• Blockage and pain within the ears
• Red and itchy eyes
• Rashes and hives on the skin
• Severe bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting

An Integrative Treatment Approach to Allergies

Rather than just taking a pill each day to put a band-aid on your body’s allergic responses, you can utilize an integrative approach to permanently escape your chronic state of discomfort. At the Center for Natural & Integrative Medicine, Dr. Kalidas will use blood testing to identify your specific allergy triggers and help you create a plan to boost healthy immune response.

Dr. Kalidas may encourage you to use herbal supplements, omega-6 fatty acid, and other modalities to support a comprehensive treatment plan. Call (407) 537-0912 to make your first appointment today and begin the journey to liberate yourself from allergies.