How Immunotherapy Helps with Allergies, Asthma, and More

Living with allergies or asthma is exhausting. Sneezing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, chest tightness — these symptoms interrupt your sleep, interfere with work and travel, and make outdoor seasons miserable. What’s happening in your body is an immune system overreaction. It treats harmless things like pollen, dust mites, or pet dander as threats and triggers inflammation that causes the symptoms you’re familiar with.

Most treatments, such as antihistamines, inhalers, and nasal sprays, only help after symptoms start. On the other hand, immunotherapy trains your immune system so those triggers stop provoking such intense reactions in the first place. For people with allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, or insect venom allergy, immunotherapy is a highly recommended, evidence-based option. 

If you’re curious whether immunotherapy could help you, Advanced Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Center PA in San Antonio and Schertz, Texas  is an excellent place to start. Dr. Patricia Gomez-Dinger and her team specialize in diagnosing your triggers and will determine if immunotherapy is right for your case.

Here, we explain how the treatment helps and who it’s for.

What is immunotherapy, and how does it work?

Immunotherapy is a treatment that gradually exposes your body to tiny amounts of the allergen you react to. It’s done slowly and safely, with gradually increasing doses. Over time, your immune system gets used to that allergen, so it doesn’t overreact. For many people, this results in fewer flare-ups, less medication, and long-term relief that lasts for years even after treatment ends.

There are two main ways immunotherapy is given:

• Allergy shots you receive at the clinic
• Sublingual drops or tablets you place under your tongue at home

Dr. Gomez-Dinger will help you choose the best option based on your triggers, lifestyle, and medical history.

How it helps with allergies

Seasonal allergies, indoor allergies, and even year-round symptoms often respond well to immunotherapy. It’s a good option if you struggle with any of the following:

• Sneezing
• Congestion
• Runny or itchy nose
• Watery, itchy eyes
• Sinus pressure
• Reactions to pets, pollen, or dust
  

Immunotherapy can help reduce how often these symptoms show up and how severe they are when they do. Over time, it can make you far less sensitive to the things that normally set you off. Many people find they can be around pets, enjoy outdoor activities, or sleep through the night without symptoms waking them up.

How it helps with asthma

For people with allergic asthma, immunotherapy can be especially helpful. Allergic asthma is triggered by the same allergens that cause sneezing and congestion. When your immune system reacts, your airways tighten, making it harder to breathe.

By reducing your sensitivity to those allergens, immunotherapy can:

• Reduce asthma flare-ups
• Make breathing more stable
• Lower your need for rescue inhalers
• Improve your overall lung comfort
  

This doesn’t replace asthma medications, but it can make them work better and reduce how often you need them.

Who is a good candidate for immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is usually considered if:

• Your allergies or asthma affect your daily life
• Over-the-counter medications only help temporarily
• You want long-term solutions, not constant symptom control
• You’re ready for a treatment that gets to the root of the problem
  

Children, teens, and adults can all benefit, and starting earlier can sometimes prevent allergies from worsening over time. In children, immunotherapy can also reduce the risk of developing new allergies and may lower the chance that allergic rhinitis progresses to asthma. 

If allergies or allergic asthma are limiting your life, immunotherapy may be the long-term solution you’ve been looking for. It’s the only widely available treatment that helps your body react less, breathe easier, and recover faster from symptoms.

Schedule an appointment with us today at Advanced Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Center PA to start.