Lake Mary ENT & Allergy: Long-Term Allergy Relief

Put Away Those Tissues -- Dr. Damask Offers Long-Term Allergy Relief

More than 60 million Americans suffer from allergies and asthma, says Lake Mary board-certified otolaryngologist Dr. Cecelia Damask, and this spring, the sniffling and sneezing will begin anew in Central Florida. For those experiencing allergic symptoms, Dr. Damask suggests a visit to Lake Mary Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy, the clinic she founded and runs.

“A lot of people don’t realize that we can actually get rid of their allergies instead of just Band-Aiding their symptoms with medicines,” Dr. Damask says.

Allergies present differently in different people. Typical symptoms include watery eyes, itchy red eyes, nasal congestion, stuffy or runny nose and post nasal drainage. But eczema and even asthma can be symptoms of allergies in some people. In fact, Dr. Damask says, 60 to 70 percent of those with asthma have an underlying allergy as their trigger.

“If we treat their underlying allergies, their asthma can improve,” she says. “For a parent of a child especially, that’s a really big deal. Many children are on multiple inhalers and systemic steroids. In most cases, we can reduce their need for asthma medications and, in a lot of cases, actually get rid of their asthma altogether.”

Some people do catch colds during the spring, but if cold-like symptoms persist for longer than 10 days, Dr. Damask suggests coming in for allergy testing. That’s because it’s likely that allergies and not a virus are causing your sniffling and sneezing. She and her staff can narrow down exactly what you’re allergic to and work with you to develop a plan for either temporary or permanent treatment.

Even if you’ve never been diagnosed with allergies before, you’re at a higher risk of developing them during adulthood if one or both of your parents suffered from allergies, Dr. Damask points out.

“Allergies tend to have a genetic component, so if one parent had an allergy, there’s a one in three chance that you’ll have one,” she explains. “If both parents had allergies, it’s a 70 percent chance.”

Lake Mary Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy is one of Florida’s leading providers of treatment for allergies and draws patients from all over the state. Dr. Damask was one of the first physicians in Florida to offer allergy drops instead of shots as a treatment option for her patients.

“We have patients that come to our office from Sarasota, Miami and Jacksonville because we have more experience than anyone else in Central Florida with allergy drops,” says Dr. Damask. Allergy drops, which are taken orally, are a safe, convenient alternative to traditional weekly shots in the doctor’s office.

“I am always amazed at how many people are unfamiliar with immunotherapy, whether in the form of allergy shots or allergy drops,” says Dr. Damask. “Most new patients to our office are unaware that they can eliminate their allergies with immunotherapy.

Medications such as Claritin and nasal sprays only cover up the symptoms of allergies and only work while a patient is on them. Immunotherapy will build up a patient’s tolerance to the things to which they are allergic so that the patient can then be exposed to those things and no longer have symptoms and no longer need medications.”

Lake Mary Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy is located at 795 Primera Blvd. Ste 1031 in Lake Mary.. Visit www.lakemaryallergy.com or call 407-829-8981 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Damask.