People in Hoffman Estates area get help to prevent obstructed airway emergencies caused by allergies

People in Hoffman Estates area get help to prevent obstructed airway emergencies caused by allergies

Allergies produce a wide range of symptoms, from annoying skin rashes to a severe anaphylactic reaction. A reaction may be mild one time and severe the next. Due to the threat of severe allergic symptoms such as anaphylaxis, it’s important to visit a specialist who works to prevent an obstructed airway caused by allergies among patients in the Hoffman Estates area.

Dr. Noga Askenazi will use skin or blood tests and food challenges as needed to diagnose the offending substance that is causing troubling symptoms or has the potential to cause symptoms that may require emergency care. Proper diagnosis is necessary to know which allergens to avoid and other effective prevention and maintenance techniques.

In addition to your airways becoming constricted, anaphylaxis symptoms may include:

  • Tongue and throat swelling
  • Wheezing
  • Panic, agitation or confusion
  • Pale or blue skin
  • Hives
  • Weak, fast pulse
  • Vomiting
  • Feeling faint

These symptoms can occur within minutes of being exposed to the allergen. Some of the common allergic triggers of anaphylaxis include:

  • Some types of penicillin and other drugs
  • Peanuts
  • Walnuts, almonds, and other “tree nuts”
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Eggs
  • Stings from winged insects, especially bees, and wasps

Lesser-known triggers include latex or rubber, and exercise. Your body is in a constant state of defending itself against harmful intruders. With any allergy, the immune system mistakenly identifies a substance such as peanuts or penicillin as a harmful invader that needs to be attacked. As it defends the body from this perceived attacker, your immune system releases chemicals that produce allergic symptoms.

In some people, these symptoms may be limited to an itchy rash or watery eyes. In others, the flood of chemicals released by your immune system affects the whole body and can cause you to go into shock. Your blood pressure drops and as the airways narrow, you are unable to breathe normally.

Since these symptoms can come on suddenly and are so serious, it’s critical for Dr. Askenazi and the staff to work with you to determine an emergency plan. This plan includes quick-relief and rescue medications such as an epinephrine delivery device. It is also critical to practice avoidance once the allergen is accurately identified. The allergists at Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates and Food Allergy Center of Illinois may also recommend long-term control medications.

Immunotherapy may retrain your immune system to perceive the allergen as a harmless substance and not as an invader. You will be exposed to gradually increasing amounts of the allergen in a controlled environment and under the supervision of Dr. Askenazi and the staff. Your immune system eventually learns to tolerate the allergen.

Asthma also narrows the airways, and this and other symptoms such as wheezing are triggered by allergens. Commonly allergic asthma is caused by exposure to pollen, animal dander, and dust mites. Lung function tests may be used to rule out other potential causes of airway obstruction. Get a step closer to solving the mystery of your troubling symptoms by scheduling a consultation with a specialist. Call (847) 888-8802.

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Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates

Meredith Cirrincione | Dr. Noga Askenazi

Amy Schack, a distinguished board-certified Physician Associate, brings a wealth of expertise to patient care. Specializing in allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, and rashes, Amy is renowned for her commitment to excellence and compassionate approach. With a background in immediate care and orthopedics, she holds a Master's in Physician Assistant studies from Midwestern University and a Bachelor of Science from Northern Illinois University. A member of esteemed professional associations, including the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Association of PAs in Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Amy Schack instills confidence, ensuring you can trust her unwavering dedication to your health and well-being.


Meredith Cirrincione is a board certified Physician Assistant and specializes in treating allergies, with a focus on asthma, rashes, environmental allergies, chemical and food allergies. She holds a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies from The Chicago Medical School - Rosalind Franklin University of Health Sciences. She is a Fellow member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Association of PAs in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. She likes to approach things holistically. She is a strong patient advocate and adored by her patients. She enjoys singing, reading, cooking, and the great outdoors.


Dr. Noga Askenazi is a nationally recognized asthma and allergy specialist who is board certified in pediatric and adult allergy. Her areas of special interest are innovative treatment of rashes, sinusitis, food allergies, asthma and immune disorders. She was past President of the ISAAI (Illinois Society of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology), works on state and national committees for advancement of the allergy field and is a consultant for Advocate, Ascension Health, Northwestern amongst other health care systems. Her joy is helping patients reach their goals after together determining best treatments. Her staff and patients are a chosen family, and she invests in their happiness. She enjoys gardening, biking and cooking to good music.