An allergist (or allergist / immunologist) is a medical doctor with residency training in Internal Medicine and/or Pediatrics, subspecialty fellowship training in Allergy & Immunology and board-certification by the American Board of Allergy & Immunology. Dr. Chen is dedicated to upholding the latest standard of care and continually educates through state and national allergy societies.

Anyone whose allergies disrupt daily living, do not respond to over-the-counter medicines or seeks testing for the cause of their symptoms. Patients with moderate to severe asthma, food, medication or insect allergies should seek an allergist.

Our practice sees patients of all ages, from infants to adults.

Primary care physicians and urgent care settings have limited and often temporary resources to treat severe allergies and asthma. Our practice treats the underlying triggers for your discomfort and not just the symptoms.

Allergies affect people of all ages, genders, races and socioeconomic status. Although allergies tend to develop in childhood, they can occur for the first time at any age or, in some cases, recur after many years of remission. Allergies often run in families and it is common for our practice to treat multiple members of the same family.

Skin or blood testing is used for food or environmental allergies. Skin testing is more sensitive and is usually preferred. Antihistamine medications need to be discontinued temporarily for accurate results. Allergy testing is generally very safe and not painful, though itching may occur if a patient is allergic.

Testing identifies allergic triggers and helps efforts to eliminate them. If the trigger is seasonal, patients can anticipate when to start or increase medications. Finally, knowing the exact environmental cause is needed to prepare allergy shots, which help patients with severe or persistent symptoms.

Immunotherapy (allergy shots) are the closest thing to an allergy cure. Allergens are injected at gradually increasing doses to desensitize the body to those triggers. Many shot patients reduce or even eliminate their medications, saving money in the long run. Unlike medications, shot effectiveness does not depend on daily use.

Generally, allergy shots are very safe. Because allergens are injected, there is always a small risk of reaction. Allergy shots should only be given in a doctor's office and you must wait 30 minutes after administration for your safety. Many patients can fit shots into a lunch break or after school.

Our office has plenty of seating, books, free Wi-Fi and most importantly trained staff to address your needs. Shots are given through the day and no appointment is needed. In the past, some doctors allowed allergy shots at home. These doses were either too low to work or unsafe. All national allergy organizations agree that shots should be given in a doctor's office.

For those worried about needles, allergy injections use much smaller needles than those used for many medications, about the size of an insulin syringe. Topical anesthetics are also provided to numb the skin and ETAA staff are pros at making the injection process as easy as possible. Shots are often over before you know it, and children as young as 4 years of age have successfully gone through our treatment program.

Many people confuse the steroid injections given in the urgent care setting with ones given by an allergy specialist. Not only do steroids only mask the symptoms temporarily, repeated doses carry a risk of weight gain, elevated blood sugar, bone damage and adrenal suppression. These are absolutely NOT a long-term solution and if you are getting these, it is time to see an allergist.

Also, beware of "allergy tests" offered in some urgent and primary care clinics. These "allergy technicians" are contracted through third-party companies and are NOT board-certified allergists regardless of how they present themselves. This deprives you of a specialist's expertise, potentially exposing you or your child to sub-optimal or even fraudulent care. Allergy shots provided through these sources may not contain the proper dose for long-term relief. Some imitators endorse self-administration of allergy shots at home, which is inconsistent with current standards of care and puts YOU at risk for side effects.

If a visit to any doctor ends with a recommendation for allergy testing, insist on a referral to a board-certified allergist.

Diagnosing asthma requires a combination of medical history, a detailed physical examination, and lung function testing in the office. Certain laboratory tests may be used to determine your specific asthma triggers.

Yes! Although asthma an be triggered by exercise, with proper treatment many patients participate fully in sports and outdoor hobbies. A healthy diet and lifestyle actually improves asthma symptoms. We can get you back to enjoying your favorite activities.

An allergy test alone is not enough to diagnose food allergy. Patients often self-diagnose or hope that a single test that will tell them exactly how to feel better.

Some companies offer testing panels purporting to diagnose "food sensitivities" and claim removal of such foods improves a variety of symptoms. It is important to understand that this test has never been scientifically proven to be able to accomplish what it reports to do. Results are often inaccurate and cause needless lifestyle changes and worse, nutrition deficiencies.

A thorough history and physical exam by a trained allergist is important to distinguish what is and is not an allergy.