Colorado Mountain Medical now provides comprehensive allergy and immunology care for children and adults in the central and western rockies. Testing and procedures include:
- Environmental allergy skin testing
- Immunotherapy (allergy shots)
- Pulmonary function testing and asthma testing
- Exercise-induced asthma testing
- Food allergy evaluations
- Venom allergy testing and immunotherapy
- Drug allergy evaluations & drug desensitization
- Patch skin testing for contact dermatitis
- Immune system evaluations
If you live in Eagle County, Garfield County, Summit County or the surrounding areas, and suffer from allergy or breathing issues, please call our allergy and immunology team today!
Environmental Allergy Skin Testing
While allergies can be detected through blood testing, skin allergy testing is less invasive, especially for patients (often children) who are not comfortable with needles. Skin allergy tests are used to diagnose common allergies. Knowing the substances that cause allergic reactions can help your provider determine the best course of action to manage your allergies and the associated symptoms.
Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots)
Once your provider determines what you are allergic to, allergy shots may be recommended. Allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, work by exposing the body to the substances that trigger allergic reactions (allergens) in order to help it build a tolerance. The shots are customized to each person’s particular allergy sensitivities. Similar to vaccines, allergy shots deliver small doses of the allergens to help the body build an immune response so that, eventually, the body no longer reacts to them. Allergy shots are administered on a regular basis–typically once or twice per week during what’s known as the “build-up stage” and then less frequently during the “maintenance period.” Patients who undergo this type of immunotherapy see great success in the reduction of reactions and symptoms.
Pulmonary Function Testing and Asthma Testing
Pulmonary function testing (PFT) evaluates how well the lungs are working and can help diagnose and monitor lung conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis. If you or a loved one are experiencing shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, exposure to lung-damaging chemicals, or chronic coughing or wheezing, you could be a good candidate for PFT.
Exercise-Induced Asthma Testing
An exercise-induced asthma (EIA) test evaluates how a patient’s lungs and heart work together during exercise. Also known as an asthma challenge test, EIA determines if exercise is causing a patient’s breathing problems. People with asthma or those who experience asthma-like symptoms during exercise are candidates for exercise-induced asthma (EIA) testing.
Food Allergy Evaluations
Those who experience symptoms related to the foods they eat are candidates for what’s known as a “challenge test”. Conducted in-office by a medical professional, a challenge test can help determine food allergies.
Venom Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy
Venom allergy testing can be performed via a skin prick test, blood test or intradermal skin test to determine if a patient is allergic to venom from insects like bees or wasps. Similar to allergy shots, as described above, venom immunotherapy (VIT) is a treatment that involves injecting small amounts of venom to reduce the risk of severe allergic reactions to insect stings.
Drug Allergy Evaluations and Drug Desensitization
Sometimes people experience a reaction after taking multiple medications, and allergy testing is recommended to identify which drug caused the reaction. Knowing which drug(s) you are allergic to can help you avoid possibly dangerous future reactions and find safe alternative medications. Some patients will pursue drug desensitization, a highly personalized treatment that can help patients who need medications for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or other conditions.
Patch Skin Testing for Contact Dermatitis
Some people experience allergic contact dermatitis, which can cause skin reactions to hard-to-identify allergens like nickel, fragrances, cosmetics, or chemicals found in certain products. A patch skin test can help a healthcare professional pinpoint the specific substance causing the allergic contact dermatitis rash so that the patient knows to avoid it.
Immune system evaluations
Immune system evaluations analyze the function of a patient’s immune system to identify potential weaknesses, such as immunodeficiency (a genetic disorder affecting immune function) or an autoimmune disease, where the body attacks its own tissues.
