Your first office visit
When you come in for your initial visit, one of our doctors will review your health history and conduct a thorough evaluation. In addition to looking at your symptoms and how long you’ve been suffering, their in-depth investigation includes things you might not associate with your condition. These include sleep habits, pets, environmental factors, medications, diet and various medical conditions. They will also ask about your previous allergies treatment and the results.
After your exam and necessary tests are complete, we will develop a personalized treatment plan designed to give you the freedom you seek from your condition. You’ll be happy to know that we always recommend the most conservative and cost-effective treatment methods first.
Diagnosis & treatment for allergies
Allergies are the result of an abnormal response of the immune system to a foreign substance known as an allergen. This abnormal response results in a variety of symptoms of allergies depending on the type of allergic condition. Allergy doctors Warner W. Carr and Mark S. Sugar can treat all types of allergies, including:
- Seasonal allergies (grass, tree & weed pollens)
- Hay fever
- Skin allergies symptoms (hives, eczema & other rashes)
- Contact dermatitis
- Food allergies (peanut allergies, etc.)
- Insect allergies
- Dust mites
- Mold
- Watery eyes from allergies
- Pet allergies
- Medication allergies
- Cosmetic allergies (soaps, make-up & perfume)
- Occupational allergies (latex, chemicals, cleaners, paint products & plastics)
To pinpoint the cause of your allergies, our doctors use universally accepted testing methods that are efficient, accurate and patient-friendly. These include the prick test, intradermal test, patch test and radioallergosorbent (RAST) test. Once the result of your skin testing is complete, you will be given the results and presented with your customized allergies treatment plan, which may include:
- Recognition & avoidance counselling
- Food elimination/diet counseling
- Medical management/inhaler treatment
- Allergy shots (immunotherapy)
- Oral immunotherapy
Keeping your asthma under control
There are many triggers that can produce symptoms of asthma and lead to rapid worsening of breathing. Triggers may include pollen, animal dander, dust mites, mold, chemical exposure, smoke and viruses. Common symptoms of asthma include breathlessness, wheezing symptoms, coughing and chest tightness. To diagnose asthma, our doctors will look at your health history and symptoms and conduct an in-office lung function test called spirometry, which is used for patients aged 4 and older. If indicated, we will conduct additional testing such as exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), impulse oscillometry or nasopharyngoscopy. We are currently the only allergy and asthma practice in the Mission Viejo area to offer these in-office tests.
Once a diagnosis of your asthma is made, an individualized treatment plan will be developed to help get you on the road to good health. Regardless of which of these treatments you receive, controlling your asthma is an attainable goal. Some of the methods we use are:
- Preventive measures
- Trigger avoidance
- Activity & lifestyle modification
- Medical management/inhaler treatment
- Allergy shots (immunotherapy)
- Oral immunotherapy
- Exercise-induced asthma treatment
- Pediatric asthma guidelines
- Pediatric asthma medications
Solutions for other conditions
With their advanced training and experience in allergy, asthma, immune disorders and internal medicine, our doctors are naturally well-suited to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Sinus problems/nasal congestion/postnasal drip/chronic sinusitis symptoms
- Sinus headaches
- Recurrent ear infections
- Chronic cough
- Immune deficiencies
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Allergy & Asthma Associates of Southern California provides relief from allergies, asthma, sinus problems, chronic cough and other related conditions. Allergy doctors Dr. Warner W. Carr and Dr. Mark S. Sugar together with their staff specialize in allergy and immunology in Southern California.
Call (949) 364-2900 to schedule your appointment today with one of our asthma doctors. Our patients come to us from Coto de Caza, Dana Point, Irvine, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Juan Capistsrano, Talega and Aliso Viejo in Orange County (OC), CA.
