Our Gilbert location has moved across the street to Mesa to better serve you. The new address is: 4140 E. Baseline Rd # 112
Mesa, AZ 85206 – If you have any questions, please call our office at 602-843-2991
News
Gilbert office moves across the street
Saturday, October 29th, 2011Dr. Morgan Retires
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011November 1, 2011
Dear Patient,
After forty-one years of medicine, I will be retiring at the end of this year from the Arizona Asthma and Allergy Institute, which I founded in 1980. We have grown to seven board certified allergists, three physician assistants and a nutritionist, operating out of four offices. Many of our doctors are consistently voted “Best Doctors” in the by annually Phoenix Magazine. Our practice will continue to be in the forefront of care for asthma, allergic and non·allergic nasal disease, recurrent otitis media and sinusitis, recurrent infections and immunodeficiency, atopic dermatitis, chronic hives, contact dermatitis, allergic and non-allergic food sensitivities and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease.
We will continue to be involved in teaching, both in lecture form in the various residency programs and for allergy rotations in our offices. We support Camp Not-A-Wheeze, which we founded and is now capably managed by the American Lung Association of Arizona. I plan to pursue a Masters Degree in Counseling in the near future and continue to give back to the community. My wife, Beverly and our children and grandchildren welcome more of my time and energy as well.
We have scheduled two open houses for me to say “Goodbye” to colleagues and patients in the month of January 2012. Please stop in and visit with me and the AAAI staff .
• Wednesday, January ISth in our Glendale office from 6pm – Spm
• Wednesday, January 25th in our Scottsdale office from 6pm – Spm
If you are unable to attend and/or want to drop a line or send a picture from the past, we have an email account to make a memory book. The email address is: morganchapter2@azsneeze.com.
Thank you for all the wonderful times, opportunities to care for our mutual patients and challenges through the years. I wish you great success and happiness in the coming, challenging years of medicine.
Sincerely,
William F. Morgan, M.D.
To view the retirement letter Click Here.
What is the “Pneumonia Shot” and who should get it?
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011The “Pneumonia Shot” as it is commonly referred is a vaccine that helps protect against infection from the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. This is one of the most common bacterias to cause Pneumonia, Bronchitis or Sinusitis.
Do you know that the guidelines recommend this vaccine for anyone with Asthma 19 years and older? Read below for further information about this vaccine and who should receive:
Vaccination with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) is recommended for all people who meet any of the criteria below:
- Previously unvaccinated adults age 65 years and older
- Age 2 through 64 with any of the following conditions:
- Chronic pulmonary disease (including athma in people age 19 years and older)
- Cigarette smokers 19 years and older
- Chronic cardiovascular disease
- Immunocompromising conditions
- Diabetes mellitus
- Chronic kidney disease
- Alcoholism or chronic liver disease
Gilbert Office Moving
Sunday, October 9th, 2011Coming soon our Gilbert location is moving across the street to Mesa to better serve you. Our Gilbert office will be closed on Thursday, October 27th and Friday, October 28th, to accommodate the move. Our new office will be open for business on Monday, October 31st. More details to come.
If you have any questions, please call our office at 602-843-2991.
Flu shots are in!
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011The Arizona Asthma and Allergy Institute as well as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine.
Our patients with asthma are at greater risk of complications from the flu so vaccination is very important. Other groups that are at higher risk include:
- Pregnant women
- Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
- Health care workers
- Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
- Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
Primatene Mist discontinued over the counter
Wednesday, September 28th, 2011The FDA has ordered Primatene Mist, the only over-the-counter asthma inhaler, be taken off drugstore shelves December 31st. Primatene Mist has CFC’s which is not environmentally safe as this can deplete the earth’s ozone layer. Several other products with CFC’s have already been removed from the market for the same reasons.
AAAI Physicians do not endorse Primatene Mist for asthma treatment because this is no longer the standard of care for asthma and the epinephrine in this medication has harmful side effects if over used. There are safer and more appropriate medications for asthma treatment.
We feel this will improve patient care by decreasing adverse effects from this medication. This will also encourage patients to see their physician to discuss their symptoms and have appropriate evaluation and treatment.
Insect Sting Allergy
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011Insect stings commonly cause local swelling, pain, itching and redness at the site of the sting. Many people who have an allergy to insect venom have these same symptoms but causing much larger reactions that can persist for days. Up to 3-4% of Adults and 1% of Children in the general population have an allergy to insects that cause more serious ”systemic reactions”. Systemic reactions will not only cause large local reactions at the site of the sting but also can cause diffuse hives, trouble breathing and possibly life threatening symptoms such as throat swelling and anaphylactic shock. The most common insect allergies to cause these types of reactions are from Bee and Fire Ant stings.
Here at the Arizona Asthma and Allergy Institute we have accurate testing to evaluate those at risk for these potentially serious reactions to insect stings. Patients with a known history of serious reactions to Bees or Fire Ants can qualify for allergy injections which can be 98% effective in preventing a systemic reaction to future stings. If you have any questions or want further investigation on your risk of insect allergy then our providers can help you!
Eczema and Food Allergy
Monday, September 12th, 2011The onset of eczema frequently coincides with introduction of certain foods into the infant’s diet. Common food allergies and possible triggers to eczema in children include egg, milk, peanut, soy and wheat. Overall, about 20-30% of children with eczema have food allergies to one or more of these foods.
If your child has eczema there may be an underlying food allergy contributing. We can further evaluate this to see if foods are a trigger to your child’s eczema and avoiding the food allergen(s) can have a significant benefit in improving eczema.
Immune Deficiency
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011Many people have an immune deficiency that goes undiagnosed as they are not regularly following up with their physician or their physician is are not doing the appropriate immunology work up to make the diagnosis.
Our Physicians are not only Board Certified in Asthma and Allergy but are also Board Certified in Immunology. We are experts in evaluating the immune system. If you or a family member have any of the signs listed below you may have a weak immune system that should be further evaluated and treated.
Important signs that may indicate an immune deficiency include:
• Recurrent, unusual or difficult to treat infections
• Poor growth or loss of weight
• Recurrent pneumonia, ear infections or sinusitis
• Multiple courses of antibiotics or IV antibiotics necessary to clear infections
• Recurrent deep abscesses of the organs or skin
• A family history of immune deficiency
• Swollen lymph glands or an enlarged spleen
• Autoimmune disease
Tips for grocery shopping for people with food allergies
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011THE “NUTS” AND BOLTS of FOOD ALLERGIES, PART 3
TIPS FOR GROCERY SHOPPING FOR PEOPLE WITH FOOD ALLERGIES
Purchasing food for a member of the family with a food allergy may seem like a daunting task, but with some practice you can make that trip to the grocery store as “easy as pie”. Try these suggestions:
Become an Expert Label Reader
- Food labeling laws require that common allergens be listed on food labels. This means food products will always list the following ingredients: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish or crustacean shellfish. These common allergens are listed separately in a “contains” statement located directly below the “ingredients” list.
- Check for cross-contamination warnings. If there is a possibility for cross-contamination with allergens, there will be a warning that the product is “manufactured in a facility that processes a common allergen” such as wheat or nuts. When applicable, avoid these products to be 100% safe.
CAUTION – Certain Foods Have a High Risk of Cross-Contamination
The risk of cross-contamination with allergens is higher in certain areas of the grocery store. Be cautious when purchasing the foods listed below, and always read the label carefully for warnings:
- Imported foods
- Foods from deli counters
- Foods from salad bars
Be Cautious when Purchasing Non – Food Items
- Pet food: Food labeling laws do not apply to pet food. Dog food can contain ingredients such as eggs and peanuts. Family pets love to lick faces, so teach your children about this potential exposure to allergens.
- Medications: Always check medications for allergy warnings and content, whether they are prescription or “over the counter.” Ingredients can be found on the package insert which you can obtain from the grocery store pharmacist.
- Cleaning Products: Personal care products such as soap, make-up and cleaning products may be labeled “hypoallergenic” but can contain food products. Be sure to check the label.
Try “Allergy Friendly” Stores
- Shopping at stores that are sensitive to living with food allergies and intolerances can help. Stores such as “Trader Joes,” “Sprouts,” and “Whole Foods” advertise their commitment to serving people with food allergies.
- Also try online grocery stores that are allergy friendly. The website kidswithfoodallergies.org/marketplace offers great selections.
Be “Label Free”- Try Non-Processed Foods
Grocery stores may carry over 50,000 items, and reading labels with fine print can be stressful. To alleviate some this worry, start becoming “label free.”
This can be done by limiting consumption of processed foods with labels; this will reduce the stress of wondering if you missed an allergen listed as an ingredient on a food product.
Not will you significantly decrease your potential exposure to allergens, you will get the added benefit of a reduced intake of fat, sugar and sodium, which are often added to processed foods.
To start this process, go slowly and start buying products that have less than 5 ingredients listed on the label. This will also substantially reduce the time you spent looking for ingredients on a label that could cause an allergic reaction.
Make a conscious effort to expand your diet and try different types of fresh fruits and vegetables or whole grains you’ve never tasted. You might find a new food that your family really enjoys!
Lezli Stone is a Registered Dietician and a consulting clinical staff member of the Arizona Asthma & Allergy Institute. She counsels AAAI patients about food allergies and nutrition. She is authoring a four-part series of articles about living with food allergies, which will be posted on this website over the next few months.