Richmond Allergy and Asthma Specialists has helped to diagnose and treat local patients in Richmond for over fifty years, serving as a guide through the mysterious process of diagnosing and reducing allergy issues specific to people both in the city and surrounding counties.

Dr. Gelber, Managing Partner of Richmond Allergy, feels that Richmond Allergy and Asthma is a premier allergy office because he and his fellow doctors “sit down with new patients and take a thorough history and pertinent physical before proceeding to the testing stage. We listen to the patient.” As associate Dr. Hark explains: “most people think of [allergies as causing] sneezing and itchy, watery eyes, [however] allergies can also cause headaches, frequent sinus infections and ear infections.”

Dr. Hark relates diagnosing a patient’s allergy issues to solving a medical mystery: “we pride ourselves on spending a lot of time with the patient, which translates into a long initial appointment. It’s like being a detective; when a patient comes here, they’ll spend the entire day in the beginning so we can figure out what is going on.”

Many people who believe themselves to be allergic to just a few allergens may not realize how relevant allergies are; one could be allergic to something as mild-sounding as avocado. Dr. Gelber explains the physical process of elimination: “We skin test if and when necessary to appropriate allergens whether it be food or environmental allergens, and then we sit down with the patient again and formulate a game plan. If necessary, we can piece together information to find environmental triggers & [then take] avoidance measures.”

The next step? Medication. Dr. Hark explains that one must “visit possible meds that may provide benefit. If [the triggering allergen is] food-related, we talk about an elimination diet,” Not to worry; one need not starve oneself or avoid foods forever. Allergy patients could be reacting to an allergen that entered the body up to 10 days before the reaction is physically present or noticed by a patient. Therefore, an elimination diet simply means going off specific foods that allergists suggest may be triggering reactions.

Richmond is a tricky location for allergies - and, as a result, patients travel from all over Virginia and even cross-country in some instances to see Drs. Gelber, Call, Massie, and Hark. Dr. Hark explains further: “perennial allergens are those around in each and every season, and due to Richmond’s Mid-Eastern location in the U.S., there are higher levels of humidity.” Higher humidity levels facilitate an increased potential for dust mite growth. There are also several prevalent molds – both indoor and outdoor – which can affect one’s sinuses. Dr. Hark believes that “allergies, [whether they are diagnosed or not], affect almost everyone.”

To schedule an appointment, please contact Richmond Allergy at (804) 285-7420. Richmond Allergy and Asthma Specialists has been at their new location at 9920 Independence Park Drive, Suite 100 since 2008 situated off Mayland Drive and Gaskins Road, one block south of Broad Street. Visit Richmond Allergy online at: www.richmondallergy.com.