By Albert S Hartel MD
Rochester ranks among the toughest cities in America for allergies and asthma, recently placing fifth worst nationally for nasal allergies and second worst for asthma.
Intense tree, grass and ragweed pollen seasons leave many residents struggling with sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, eczema and asthma that disrupts work, school and sleep despite regular medications.
Allergen immunotherapy, commonly known as allergy shots, is the only treatment that retrains the immune system to stop overreacting to specific triggers.
Immunotherapy turns allergic reactions down or off, rather than continuing to get worse. By receiving gradually increasing doses of allergen extracts, patients build lasting tolerance. A typical course lasts about five years, after which many people continue experiencing significant relief for years afterward, even after stopping.
Up to 90% of patients see meaningful improvement. The benefits are especially strong for those with asthma: immunotherapy can prevent allergic rhinitis from progressing into asthma, improve asthma control, and reduce exacerbations and the need for controller and rescue medications.
Beyond asthma, shots deliver long-term reductions in a multitude of symptoms from allergic rhinitis, eye allergies, sinus symptoms, eczema while decreasing overall reliance on daily medications. They can also prevent new allergies from developing. The treatment works for a wide range of triggers, including pollen, dust mites, mold, pet dander, and can dramatically reduce the risk of severe reactions to stinging insects.
Patients with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and other complex mast cell disorders often experience meaningful improvement when specific allergic triggers are identified and treated, helping to reduce the cumulative overall disease burden over time.
Many patients prefer to avoid long-term daily systemic medications — especially steroids — because of their cumulative risks and side effects. Immunotherapy offers a path to reduce or even eliminate that dependence by treating the root cause. Patients often report better sleep, fewer missed days at work or school, fewer flares and urgent visits, and a return to activities they once avoided.
Local board-certified allergists with extensive experience in comprehensive testing and personalized regimens help identify exact triggers and build effective plans tailored to our region’s challenging environment. If seasonal allergies or asthma are limiting your life despite regular medications — or if you’re simply ready to move beyond lifelong daily drugs — immunotherapy may be worth exploring.
Talk with a board-certified allergist to see if this approach fits your needs. Lasting freedom is possible.
Physician Albert S. Hartel specializes in pediatric and adult allergy and immunology. He is the president of Allergy Asthma Immunology of Rochester. For more information, visit https://aair.info or call 585-442-0150.