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Defining Allergy Fact from Fiction: Key Takeaways from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Annual Meeting

There are a lot of common myths about allergies. Many might be shocking due to a great deal of false information in the media and on the Internet. According to a presentation given at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), previously held beliefs from medical experts and public perception are partially to blame for these allergy misconceptions. Some of the most common allergy myths are:

• I Can’t have Bread, I’m Allergic to Gluten. You can have a gluten intolerance, but it’s extremely rare to have a true allergy. Most allergic reactions to these foods stem from wheat. Many people self-label as having gluten allergy and avoid gluten without any medical indication.
• I Cannot Have Vaccines Due to an Egg Allergy. Egg embryos are used to grow viruses for vaccines such as the flu, yellow fever and rabies shots. However, it’s now safe to get the flu shot, which can help prevent serious illness.
• I’m Allergic to Cats and Dogs, but Can Have a Hypoallergenic Breed.Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog or cat. Allergens are released in saliva, sebaceous glands and perianal glands. It’s not the fur people are allergic to. It is true that some breeds are more bothersome for allergy sufferers than others.

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Our Johns Creek Office Has Moved!

To better meet the needs of our patients, Atlanta Allergy & Asthma has moved our Johns Creek clinic. The new office is directly across the street from the Emory Johns Creek Hospital main entrance and there is plenty of parking for your convenience. We begin seeing patients at this location on Monday, October 28th. The new address is:

Get Your Flu Shot

Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic recommends that all of our asthma patients between the ages of 5 and 65 receive the 2013/2014 influenza vaccine. These shots are available at all 19 Atlanta Allergy clinic locations. No appointment is necessary but you should be a current patient.

Protection from the vaccine begins about two weeks after the injection and is thought to last for the influenza season.

For more information, click here.

Employees of the Quarter

Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic congratulates our Employees of the Quarter. Our nurses and front desk staff are some of our greatest assets. Help us say “thank you” to the following employees:

• Stephanie Jackson– Clinic Manager at our Powers Ferry clinic
• Stephanie Anderson– Nurse at our Austell clinic
• Denise Shankman – Nurse at our Kennestone clinic
• Valerie Johnson – Front desk staff at our Canton clinic
• Cassandra Terry – Front desk staff at our Buckhead clinic
• Keith Knight – Administration at our Business Office

Congratulations and thank you!

Watch An Emerging Epidemic: Food Allergies in America

Our friends at FARE (Food Allergy Research &Education) teamed up with the Discovery Channel to produce a new documentary about food allergies called An Emerging Epidemic: Food Allergies in America. The one hour documentary is narrated by Steve Carrell and shows what it's like to live with life-threatening food allergies, how those affected by food allergies are working to raise awareness, and the research that is currently underway to find more effective treatments and a cure.

Watch the entire documentary online here.

Atlanta Allergy Patients Enjoy the Benefits of the Patient Portal

If you are a patient and you have not activated your secure Patient Portal account – don’t wait any longer. Join the thousands of others who are enjoying the benefits:

• Schedule appointments online 24 hours a day
• Receive appointment reminders
• Refill prescriptions
• Review your health records and update your demographic information
• Communicate with AAAC staff

To activate your account and start using the Portal, simply call 770-953-3331.

New Treatment Option for Allergies

The physicians of AAAC are pleased to announce an additional treatment option for management of your allergies. Sublingual Immunotherapy, SLIT, is a desensitization treatment in which patients’ self-administer allergen drops under their tongue on a daily basis. Although not as effective as allergy shots, medical research done both in Europe and the United States has found that SLIT therapy is quite safe and effective at building a patient’s tolerance to allergic triggers and ultimately improving symptoms.

SLIT may be an option for certain types of allergy patients. SLIT is not yet approved by the FDA, therefore at this time, insurance companies are not reimbursing for this form of immunotherapy. Please contact our office if you have additional questions or make an appointment to see your allergist to review your management plan to see if you may be a candidate for this new treatment.

Sign Up for Our New Patient Newsletter

Subscribe to our new Allergy Update newsletter, and you'll get practice news, updates on the latest allergy and asthma research, and more.