Smoking Cessation

Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States with more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke exposure alone. Many smokers have a craving for a cigarette in stressful situations but with help and motivation anyone is able to quit.

To Quit Smoking

Prepare to quit. The first step to quitting is a true desire to quit smoking. Establish a quit date which can help you prepare emotionally. Prepare by not buying extra cartons of tobacco and eliminating ashtrays in your home. Pick a date that is meaningful to you – birth date, special anniversary, holiday, even a New Year’s resolution.

Get help from others. Inform family and friends that you are going to quit and that you will need their emotional support and help.

Get help from your physician and voluntary agencies. The CDC has a quit smoking consumer guide available on the web (www.cdc.gov/tobacco). The American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society all have helpful programs.

Quit with a friend. People who quit smoking together are more often successful. They can support each other when they feel the need for another cigarette.

Get pharmaceutical help. Nicotine, the addictive ingredient in cigarettes, is a drug. You can help yourself by supplying nicotine in another, safer fashion while you quit smoking. Nicotine replacement is available as gums, patches or sprays.

Non-nicotine containing medications such as Bupropion (Zyban®) and Varenicline (Chantix®) are prescription drugs that can also help you quit smoking.

Help yourself. The desire to smoke is both habit and addiction. When do you have a cigarette in your hand? Try putting something else in your hand. Change your routines where you find that smoking is your pleasure. If you feel smoking helps you with your bad moods, you should try talking with a friend or your doctor, or finding other activities that provide enjoyment such as exercise.

If you fail do not despair. On average most permanent non smokers will quit 8 times before finally quitting for good. If you have a set-back, don’t get discouraged, just try again!

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a great resource that offers free support, services and even smoking cessation therapies: 1-855-335-3569 OR OKhelpline.com

Why Should You Visit an Allergist

Is it a cold, the flu, or persistent seasonal allergies made worse by Oklahoma weather? Do your rashes seem to appear at a certain time of year or after you eat specific foods? A board-certified allergist can help you untangle these mysteries and get you to a place where you feel. In this article, you will learn the following points:

What an allergist does and what they test for
When you may consider getting an allergy test

When You Go to an Allergist, What Do They Do?

Allergists perform testing to determine what their patients are allergic to. They prescribe various treatments, including antihistamines, inhalers, creams, and allergen immunotherapy, to help their patients feel better. If you're considering visiting an allergist, think about your symptoms and when they appear. For example, you may know that you have a severe cat allergy if you always sneeze, cough, or break out into hives when you visit your best friend, who has five feline companions in the house. A food allergy may be equally obvious and even life-threatening due to its severity.

On the other hand, you may have no clue what you're allergic to. This is where a qualified allergist can help you by performing standardized, research-backed allergy testing to determine the cause of your suffering.

What Do Allergists Usually Test For?

Your allergist at Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic will first talk to you, discuss your medical history and review your symptoms. If you experience hives or anaphylactic shock (a serious, life-threatening reaction) after eating a food, your doctor may run a series of tests to determine the offending food. If your symptoms involve itchy eyes, sneezing, a sore throat, or a cough, your allergist will likely perform a skin test for environmental allergies such as different types of pollen, animal dander, dust, and mold.

If you have eczema or other skin symptoms related to allergies, the allergist may review the products you use daily and perform patch testing for contact dermatitis caused by lotions, shampoos, or fragrances.

When Should You Get an Allergy Test?

When to see an allergist depends on the severity and frequency of your symptoms. Sometimes, it's enough for patients with milder symptoms to simply take an over-the-counter antihistamine for the duration of allergy season. If your symptoms are frequent and bothersome, you've had a severe reaction to food, or you have symptoms of asthma, including shortness of breath or frequent coughing, it's time to visit an allergist for treatment. Allergies typically don't get better over time, but a personalized treatment regimen can help a great deal.

Is It Expensive To See an Allergist?

Your insurance may cover part or all your consultation and testing. Don't let financial concerns stop you from seeing an allergist — especially if you or your child is suffering from chronic or unexplainable symptoms. Treating allergies can drastically improve a person's quality of life.

Get in touch with Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic as soon as possible to determine coverage for evaluation of services. We look forward to serving you and your family!

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