Healthcare Career as an Allergist

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 50 MILLION AMERICANS are affected by allergies and/or asthma. Sneezing, coughing, headaches, stomach pains, and hives are among the most common symptoms. They are the result of the body's immune response to foreign substances, known as allergens or triggers. We are all familiar with the term "hay fever," which is an allergic reaction to pollen. Anything can trigger an allergic response, including certain foods, animals, medicines, or even sunshine and water. Most allergies are minor and can be alleviated with a combination of avoidance and over-the-counter medications. Others are more serious. They may interfere with daily activities and require medical attention. Some are even life threatening. Allergy specialists can help people regain their ability to enjoy life without worry of when the next allergy attack will hit. Allergy specialists, including allergists, allergy nurses, and allergy technicians, have specific training in the field of allergies. Allergists are board-certified physicians who are capable of managing a full range of allergies and associated immune conditions. There are two main parts to their job: diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis is a multi-¬step process that starts with a physical examination, detailed medical history, and a patient interview. In many cases, skin or blood tests are needed to confirm a diagnosis. Treatment plans are individualized and may involve lifestyle changes, prescription medications, and/or immunotherapy. Allergy nurses and technicians work alongside allergists, handling a variety of tasks like taking medical histories, performing tests, giving allergy shots, teaching patients how to deal with their condition, and monitoring patients' conditions over time. They can do just about anything the allergist does, except determine a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. Working together, the team can improve a patient's overall quality of life. If you can handle the educational requirements and have a desire to help as many people as possible, this could be a good career choice. It comes loaded with benefits, marked by a high level of job and personal satisfaction and the opportunity to make an enormous difference in people's lives. Since patients are everywhere, you do not need to relocate to find a job. Once school is in the past, you can look forward to the kind of work/life balance most medical professionals envy.