Treat the source of allergies
By Patricia Nugent
The incidence of Americans suffering from allergies and asthma has nearly tripled over the past 25 years since Dr. Barry Lampl founded his practice, Allergy Diagnostics.
Also during that time, to meet the growing patient load, his practices have grown to include locations in Fairlawn, Mentor, Parma, Westlake, Beachwood and Strongsville.
“We really cannot pinpoint the reason for the spike in both inherited and environmental allergies and asthma,” he says. “But the good news is, they are fairly simple to diagnose and treat.”
Painless and quick, an allergy assessment, or prick test, involves placing tiny pinpricks to the forearm. When the allergy is detected, the diagnosis is clear.
And while there are many remedies over the counter to treat allergies, he cautions that sometimes people “treat allergy symptoms with a Band-Aid instead of pinpointing and addressing the allergy itself.”
Immunotherapy has come a long way over the years. Dr. Lampl explains that the protocol involves administering trace amounts of the substance the patient is allergic to through tiny pain-free subcutaneous injections, once a week, until they reach a point where they only require maintenance shots.
Dr. Lampl’s specialization in allergy and immunology is a personal one.
Growing up, he was severely allergic to cats, trees and grasses, and said that seeking the best treatment made a notable difference in his life.
“Why do I love my job?” he asks. “Every day I get to see patients improve the quality of their lives.”
He references studies that have shown that students’ test scores decline in peak allergy seasons, and also mentions that patients who consistently lose sleep because of their symptoms suffer needlessly.
Allergy Diagnostics has locations in Fairlawn, Mentor, Strongsville, Beachwood, Westlake and Parma. All locations feature easy parking and access. There is no facility fee. They welcome patients ages five and up. Call 330-836-9232 to make an appointment, or visit AllergyDiagnostics.com to find out more.