Physician Expert in Asthma and Food Allergies Joins Pulmonary Medicine Associates

An expert in asthma, allergic disorders, and immunology, Dr. Chiraag Patel, has joined Pulmonary Medicine Associates (PMA) in Sacramento and Roseville.

Asthma treatment has dramatic new therapies on the horizon. Until recently, options were limited to steroids and a few inhalers. Now additional therapeutic options are available that allow asthma sufferers more freedom with less medication and improved lung function. Using new immunomodulatory treatments that only have to be administered once or twice a month, even severe asthmatics often find improved quality of life.

Skin testing can identify specific triggers for asthma, eczema, and environmental allergies. Immunotherapy (“allergy shots”) has been the cornerstone of the allergy sufferer’s treatment regimen; however, there are large variations in potency. Recent data shows that to achieve lifelong remission of allergies, patients must reach undiluted (i.e. full concentration) dosing. Subsequently, people that have previously “failed” treatment have a better chance of success, often allowing complete freedom from all medication. Additionally, it is now possible for some patients to undergo rush immunotherapy that allows the entire process of “desensitization” to be completed over two to three days as opposed to six months. Through Dr. Patel’s expertise, PMA will now offer rush immunotherapy for qualifying patients.

Asthma can be especially challenging for those participating in sports.

Muhammad Afzal, M.D. FCCP, chief executive officer for PMA said, “Dr. Patel’s unique experience with high performing athletes from the NFL, NHL, and MLB lends to a very specific type of treatment plan that includes pushing the boundaries of lung function to maximize performance.  This added expertise will offer our asthma patients expanded treatments for active individuals such as children and athletes.”

Food allergy is a serious medical condition affecting up to 15 million people in the United States, including one in 13 children. It can range from a minor inconvenience to a life-threatening problem.

According to Dr. Patel, “Children with a food allergy are two to four times as likely to experience other allergic conditions, including asthma, than children without food allergies. This is important because children with coexisting food allergy and asthma may be more likely to experience anaphylactic reactions to foods and are at higher risk of death. Adults might avoid restaurants and environments where the offending food may be served, thus depriving them of enjoying certain social situations.

“In many cases people avoid certain foods when they don’t need to.  Blood tests are not clinically specific and can lead to the unnecessary avoidance of a multitude of foods. Additionally, people can outgrow previous allergies.”

Dr. Patel has successfully identified the culprit food while at the same time either removing and/or safely re-introducing certain “allergic” foods into many pediatric and adult patients’ diets, allowing people to once again enjoy foods that were previously feared.

Immunology is one of the fastest growing areas of research and targeted therapy. People who have unusual, frequent, or persistent infections may actually have an underlying immune defect.

Dr. Patel noted, “Some immune deficiencies are often mistakenly diagnosed as familiar diseases. For example, recurrent sinusitis or sarcoidosis can actually be specific immune deficiencies that, once correctly identified, are very responsive to treatment.”

Dr. Patel completed his fellowship in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, one of only eight Ivy League institutions. His adult training was done at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, a top 10 hospital, and his pediatric training was done at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the number 1 ranked children’s hospital in the U.S. He is certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. 

Dr. Patel grew up in Roseville, graduated from Jesuit High School and then completed his undergraduate work at University of California, Davis in microbiology.

Dr. Patel will have office hours at the Roseville and Sacramento PMA office locations.  Appointments may be made with Dr. Patel and our other physician specialists by calling the PMA scheduling office at 916-679-3590. For more information about PMA please visit: www.pmamed.com.