The majority of allergy medications are now available without a prescription. This is obviously a good thing if you are an allergy sufferer, as you do not have to see your doctor get a prescription for simple treatment. However, you should be careful. Over-the-counter allergy medications can be tricky if you don’t know all of […]
Avoid the “D” in Allergy Treatment
[blog updated April 2026] Why Allergy Decongestants Can Cause Anxiety, Insomnia, and High Blood Pressure The Hidden Dangers of Claritin-D, Allegra-D, and Zyrtec-D Spring allergy season is here, and with it comes sneezing, itchy eyes, sinus pressure, and miserable nasal congestion. Many people automatically reach for medications like Claritin-D, Allegra-D, or Zyrtec-D because they seem […]
Stop & Read: #1 Lesson for Preventing Allergies
[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 […]
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 […]
Genes, Infections and Drug Allergies
I read an exciting article in USA Today (October 25th) about Genes and Medicine. The article, “Genes are Part of the Puzzle”, shows how medical research is moving to personalized medicine based on your genetic fingerprint (genome). The article is careful to state that while you can have your entire genetic make-up analyzed, even expert […]
Chronobiology and Allergies: Timing is Everything!
The field of chronobiology, the science of body timing, is not only fascinating but also has some very practical applications for allergy sufferers. Our bodies produce thousands of chemicals and hormones to regulate our body and immune system in response to our environment. We know that sunshine and daylight regulate our melatonin and Vitamin D […]
The Worst Allergy Season Ever! Don’t Worry, My Tips Will Keep You Protected
The Worst Allergy Season Ever seems to be the headline every spring. It alarms those that typically suffer from pollen allergies, and it worries others who think it’s contagious. The real secret to getting through a bad allergy season is to take some precautions before the season ever begins. The other key is to use […]
Cold Urticaria And Cold Allergy: Not A Joke!
I’ve often joked around with my patients during this brutally cold northeast winter that “I’m allergic to the cold!” The dark, cold winter days are tough can be hard to get through both mentally and physically. However, I don’t want to belittle the existence of cold allergy, because it does really exist! Cold Urticaria The […]
Chronic Cough: Please DON’T Pass the Lozenges!
Cough Drops: How Effective Are They for a Cough? Along with many travelers this holiday season, I passed through busy airports. There was no shortage of Kleenex packets being bought at the convenient shops, and many travelers had their stash of cough drops. In my opinion, the “cough drop” is one of the least effective […]
The Allergist’s Role in Treating Chronic Cough – Part 2
In the previous post, I spoke about the causes of chronic cough due to nasal congestion and post-nasal drip. Today, I want to discuss when a chronic cough emanates from the chest. It seems obvious when a person is coughing that the problem is in their chest; however, a good allergist/physician should take a complete […]