Family Center For Allergy And Asthma

03/10/2026

Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), also known as Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome, is an allergic reaction to raw fruits, vegetables, and some nuts, causing itching or swelling of the mouth, lips, and throat. It is caused by cross-reactivity where the immune system confuses proteins in raw produce with pollen

03/08/2026

A cat allergy is an immune system reaction to a specific protein (primarily Fel d 1) found in a cat's saliva, urine, and dander (dead skin cells), rather than the fur itself. These microscopic, sticky particles often cause sneezing, itchy eyes, and respiratory issues like wheezing or coughing.

03/02/2026

Asthma affects men, women and children, and can have life threatening implications if not treated and monitored. Care to guess how many people in the U.S. suffer from asthma? If you guessed 24 million, you're right.

02/26/2026

Why do I cough?
Coughing is a protective reflex to clear your airways of mucus, irritants, or infection. Common causes include viral infections (cold/flu), allergies, postnasal drip, asthma, acid reflux (GERD), environmental irritants, or lingering effects from a recent sickness. A cough that persists for more than 8 weeks should be checked by a doctor.

02/23/2026

Is it a cold or allergies?
Allergies cause itchy eyes, nose, or throat and last as long as exposure to allergens, typically without fever. Colds develop gradually, last 1–2 weeks, and often include fever, body aches, and sore throat. Key differences include itchy eyes/nose (allergies) vs. body aches/fever (colds).

02/17/2026

Winter allergy symptoms often mimic a cold but persist longer, typically caused by indoor triggers like dust mites, pet dander, and mold. Common symptoms include persistent sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, nasal congestion, runny nose, coughing, scratchy throat, and sometimes skin rashes or eczema flare-ups.

02/12/2026

Dust mite allergy is triggered by inhaling airborne proteins from dust mite droppings and body fragments, which are common in mattresses, pillows, and carpets.

01/28/2026

Food allergy symptoms typically occur within minutes to two hours after consuming a trigger food, affecting the skin, respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, or cardiovascular system. Common symptoms include hives, itchy skin, swelling of the face/lips/tongue, wheezing, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and dizziness. Severe, life-threatening reactions (anaphylaxis) may occur.

01/14/2026

You should see an allergist when over-the-counter medications don't control persistent allergy or asthma symptoms, if your symptoms (like sneezing, congestion, wheezing, hives, or eye irritation) disrupt your daily life, sleep, or work, or if you experience severe reactions like swelling or trouble breathing, to identify triggers and get effective treatment for chronic issues or asthma.

08/29/2025

https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/york-county/local-experts-give-tips-for-battling-seasonal-allergies-as-the-weather-cools/521-1e07890d-4473-4f2a-9fc4-26bcc36d57fd

York County residents brace for rising pollen counts. Discover ways to fend off fall allergies with expert advice on prevention and relief.

08/13/2025

Allergy testing measures how a person reacts to specific allergens, such as pollen, trees, or molds. Testing is recommended if you need help pinpointing what is causing your symptoms so that you can better manage your allergies.

05/20/2025

Depending on where you live, there are generally three pollen seasons. The start and end dates of these seasons, as well as the specific plants, vary based on the climate.
• Trees generally pollinate in the spring. Birch, cedar, cottonwood and pine are big allergy triggers.
• Grass releases its pollen in the summer. Timothy and Johnson, and Rye grasses are examples of allergens in this category.
• Weeds cause hay fever in the fall. Ragweed is the biggest offender as it can grow in nearly every environment.