Dr. Mariana Marcu, Top 3 Ways to Battle Allergies This Winter in NYC
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Nov 24, 2014) - Dr. Mariana Marcu addresses everyone's concerns this flu season, as she states, "Winter is the best time to treat your allergies!"
During the winter, your indoor allergies, such as dust mites, cockroaches and pet dander, worsen. While the cold weather destroys the pollens that plague people with allergy symptoms during the fall, we begin spending more time indoors with the windows closed. Heaters set on high modes lead to the circulation of airborne, indoor particles. With the windows closed, air ventilation is at its lowest so the allergens have the greatest effect. Consequently, your indoor allergy symptoms may worsen during this time of year.
Signs of worsening allergy symptoms may be sneezing and a runny nose in the morning, along with a stuffy nose at night. Additionally, your asthma symptoms may worsen with an increase in coughing and wheezing, though this may also be due to your pet dander allergy.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or other allergy symptoms, or if you would like to catch these problems before they begin, then it might be the right time to get allergy tested and receive medical treatment and advice.
The main recommendations to treat your indoor allergies are:
Use allergen-avoidance products to reduce exposure.
Take allergy medications to reduce symptoms.
Consider allergy shots (immunotherapy) to reduce the allergic response and address the underlying condition.
It is common for people with allergies to have asthma as well, and it may be that the asthma symptoms are triggered by allergies, which is allergy-induced asthma. In this case, your asthma symptoms will also worsen with your increased indoor allergies this winter.
As mentioned above, allergy shots (immunotherapy) is the way to treat your underlying allergy condition. It involves exposing you to increasing amounts of allergen and desensitizing you to it. Over time, you will experience decreased sensitivity to dust mites, pet dander or whatever it is that you are allergic to and increased comfort around those allergens. Allergen immunotherapy is a long-term, cost-effective way to manage your symptoms if they hinder your life in any way.
Other factors that can increase your asthma symptoms during the winter may be cold air and rhinitis from either the common cold or influenza.
Protect yourself during the flu season and get vaccinated!
About Dr. Mariana Marcu, M.D.
NYC based Mariana Marcu, M.D., FAAAAI, is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. She completed her residency at NYHQ-New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and continued there as chief medical resident for an additional year. Her Allergy, Asthma & Immunology fellowship was completed at North Shore-LIJ Health System, which was previously located at Schneider Children's Hospital. Dr. Marcu is a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). She is also a member of the New York Allergy & Asthma Society (NYAAS) and the World Allergy Organization (WAO). With more than 15 years of clinical experience in NYC, Dr. Marcu specializes in skin allergic conditions, asthma, allergy immunotherapy for seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis along with insect venom allergies, and food and drug oral challenges. She conducts state-of-the-art testing and manages patients' treatment in her two offices, which are conveniently located in midtown Manhattan and SoHo area.
For more information about Allergy Testing Services in NYC, or if you have any questions or comments for Dr. Mariana Marcu, please contact the office at (212) 481-1744 or visit http://nyallergycare.com
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