[updated July 2019] During one of the first lectures, I ever attended in allergy fellowship training was from esteemed Professor Vincent Beltrani, from the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, a double-boarded allergist and dermatologist (one of a handful in the entire country.) In a room full of young allergists, Dr. Beltrani roared in his […]
Chronic Cough Relief: Treating the Cause Can Lead to the Cure
A noisy, chronic cough is not only uncomfortable, but it’s also unbearable for those around you such as family and co-workers. We mostly tend to think of a cough related to an infection, which would respond to an antibiotic. In many cases, this is erroneous thinking. It is easy to fall into this trap whether […]
Tree Pollen Allergy: The Ultimate Survival Guide
The famous boxer, Joe Louis, was once quoted saying his opponent ‘He can run, but he can’t hide.’ The same might be said for patients with spring tree pollen allergy symptoms. You can try to run and hide by going indoors, but eventually, you will have to go outside and face the pollen. Avoiding Pollen […]
Vitamin D & Allergies
Vitamin D has been aptly called “The Sunshine Vitamin,” because one of the best sources of this vitamin comes from above. Researchers have been pouring out studies showing that good levels of Vitamin D protect us against depression, breast cancer, bone loss…. and yes, allergies. How Does Vitamin D Do All of These Things? Vitamin […]
Your Cat Can Save Your Life
I never thought I would write the heading: Your Cat Can Save Your Life! But I just had a patient that told me her recent experience. My patient had been suffering from chronic sinus pressure, headaches, and fatigue for several months. I was concerned at first that she was allergic to her cat, and that […]
Why Benadryl isn’t the Optimal Choice for Allergic Swelling
[blog updated May 2026] Why Allergy Specialists Are Moving Beyond Benadryl for Seasonal Allergies The Problem with Benadryl: Safer, Longer-Lasting Allergy Treatments Explained For decades, Benadryl has been one of the most recognized allergy medications in America. Many people automatically reach for it when they experience allergic swelling, itchy eyes, hives, sneezing, or seasonal allergy […]
Ragweed Is Blowing in the Wind…
The weather has been amazing the past few days….. Cooler air, sunshine; however, I am seeing many patients suffering from what at first seems like a cold- runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. Beware! These are likely to be the signs of ragweed pollen allergy. The season started very late this year- usually Labor Day […]
Allergies Can be a Real Pain in the Neck
The fields of orthopedics and allergy seem to have little in common. You break a leg, you go see the orthopedist and have a cast put on. You have severe sneezing fits, you see the allergist who gives you a nasal spray. Do the two paths ever cross? The Doctor Joke This reminds me of […]
The One-Two Punch to Knock out Fibromyalgia Pain
I sometimes feel boxing analogies are overdone: “He threw in the towel” (he gave up) or “He’s got a glass jaw” (he can’t take a hit). When it comes to fibromyalgia pain I like to get in “fighting mode” for my patients and deal with a knockout blow to their pain. The good news for […]
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Disease Doctors Must Recognize
A Disease Doctors Refuse to See, an article by Julie Rehmeyer in The New York Times, describes how patients with Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) feel they are treated as second class patients because their diagnosis has no specific test or treatment. Therefore, this disease is not recognized by the medical community. In fact, […]