News

Prairie du Chien, WI – Crossing Rivers Health is partnering with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) this May to recognize “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month”.

More than 60 million Americans overall have asthma and allergies – about 26 million Americans have asthma; approximately 32 million with food allergies, and roughly 21 million with hay fever, rhinitis, or nasal allergies. These conditions can be challenging to manage.

The AAFA defines asthma as a chronic disease that causes airways to become inflamed, making it hard to breathe. There is no cure for asthma. The best way to manage asthma is to avoid triggers, take medications to prevent symptoms and prepare to treat asthma episodes if they occur. Common symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness.

Allergies are one of the most common chronic diseases. An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system sees a substance as harmful and overreacts to it. The substances that cause allergic reactions are allergens. When someone has allergies, their immune system makes an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies respond to allergens. The symptoms that result are an allergic reaction and can vary depending on the allergen and the individual.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) states that if an individual feels like they are always getting sick with a cough or head congestion, he or she should see an allergist. Often, the symptoms of asthma or allergies develop gradually over time. An allergist can perform testing and develop a treatment plan for your individual condition.

Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie du Chien provides treatment for allergy and asthma conditions, along with needle-free skin testing, gentle pediatric-specific skin testing, and pulmonary function testing. Appointments can be scheduled by calling Crossing Rivers Health Center for Specialty Care at 608.357.2525 and more information is available at crossingrivers.org/allergy.

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