Allergies occur when the immune system reacts to a foreign substance that is usually not harmful.
Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes inflammation and the narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe.
Immune-related conditions occur when the immune system is either unable to defend against infections or, on the contrary, attacks the body instead of defending it.
Confused? You don’t need to be.
Valley Health System is offering comprehensive, personalized care for both children and adults facing allergies, asthma and immune-related conditions.
Valley’s allergy and immunology team works to pinpoint the reasons behind certain allergic reactions through different allergy tests and immune evaluations, such as skin testing, blood work, oral food challenges, pulmonary function testing and patch testing.
Allergies can often cause asthma, and both conditions create immune dysregulation. These conditions can cause physical reactions such as shortness of breath and skin reactions, disrupt daily routines, and lead to emotional and psychological distress. Some may even be life-threatening.
Once an allergen is identified, the team will work with the patient to develop a personalized treatment plan. The multidisciplinary team works closely with other specialties, including pulmonology, dermatology and rheumatology.
Treatment options vary depending on the allergy or immune condition presented, but both inpatient and outpatient options are available. This can include environmental control measures, nasal sprays, oral medications, biologic injections, food oral immunotherapy, and intravenous and subcutaneous immunoglobulin infusions.
Dr. Veronica Azmy, an allergist and immunologist at Valley Health System, broke it down this way.
“Allergic and immune disorders vary widely from person to person, and what works for one patient may not work for another,” she said. “Our expanded program is designed to not
only identify precisely what triggers a patient’s symptoms, but also to develop a care plan that fits their daily life, supports long-term health, and offers hope for improved outcomes.”
Conditions treated include seasonal and perennial allergies; food allergies; drug allergies; insect and venom allergies; allergic asthma; allergic contact dermatitis; anaphylaxis; immunodeficiency syndromes; low immunoglobulin levels, where the body does not produce adequate amounts of antibodies; and hyper eosinophilia syndrome, a condition where there are abnormally high eosinophils in the blood, which are the white blood cells that play a role in allergic reactions.
Azmy said Valley’s team uses the latest research and guidelines to provide evidence-based, high-quality care, backed by board-certified pediatric and adult allergists and immunologists.
“We offer patients quick results, and after allergy testing, patients receive personalized guidelines tailored to their specific allergens,” she said. “One example is access to the Contact Allergen Management Program after patch testing, which provides patients with a list of safe products that do not contain their allergens.”
The team sees patients at 140 East Ridgewood Avenue in Paramus.
