Allergies are a big concern these days and it seems that the recommendations are always changing, so we reached out to immunologist from Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights, Sarah Silverman, M.D., to get more information on the issue.
Can you tell us a bit about your specialty?
I am a Board Certified allergist/immunologist. As an allergist/immunologist, I manage pediatric and adult patients with a wide variety of medical conditions. Some of the conditions that allergist/immunologists treat are: asthma, rhinitis, hay fever, chronic nasal and sinus congestion, food allergies, eye allergies, allergic skin conditions such as hives and contact dermatitis, swelling, eczema, and immune deficiency. I see patients of all ages on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights.
Why did you decide on allergy and immunology?
I love the field of allergy and immunology for several reasons:
- I get to treat both children and adults, which I enjoy very much.
- The field covers diverse conditions from food allergy to contact skin allergy to asthma to immune deficiency – I never get bored!
- The practice of allergy allows me to improve the quality of life of my patients, whether it is letting them enjoy a food they were once allergic to or enabling them to live with a pet without any symptoms.
- I get to spend time educating patients on allergen avoidance and disease management and 5) Allergy/immunology is a dynamic field where we are learning new things every day in the hopes of improving patients’ lives.
What are the most common things you see in children these days? The most common conditions I see in children are: food allergy, environmental allergies (such as pet, pollen, and dust), eczema, asthma, cough, hives, and medication allergies.
Is there a reason for what seems like a spike in tree nut and other allergies in classrooms across America, compared to when we were children? That is a very good, yet difficult, question to answer. I think the allergy community has been trying to figure this out, and has put forth some possible explanations, but we do not know for sure. One possible reason is that for many years the medical community had advised parents to delay the introduction of certain allergenic foods until children were a bit older. We see now, with the results of the LEAP study, that early introduction to allergenic foods leads to fewer food allergies in at-risk children. Other possible reasons include the over-processing of food, which may make it more allergenic, and our decreased exposure to certain pathogens in childhood, which makes us more allergenic (called the hygiene hypothesis). It is likely that the reason for the rise in food allergy is due to a number of factors combined.
What can parents do to strengthen the immunity of their families? Are there any vitamin supplements or specific foods that you recommend? The best way to strengthen your immune system is to take good care of yourself and of your children. Eating a well-balanced diet, getting adequate sleep, daily exercise, and keeping up-to-date on vaccinations can help. Vitamin supplements are not the best way to get our daily vitamins; eating foods rich in important nutrients is much better.
Is it true that a pregnant woman can protect her unborn child from developing certain allergies to foods by eating them during her pregnancy? Unfortunately, I do not think this is the case and to my knowledge, the research in this area is not strong enough to recommend either way. The propensity to become allergic to something (environmental or food) is related to many factors, and timing of exposure is just one factor. There is no clear way to totally protect a child from developing food allergies. My advice to moms is to eat what they want to eat when pregnant and breastfeeding. What we do know is that breastfeeding for the first few months of life and early introduction of allergenic foods is the best way to minimize the development of food allergies.
What should parents know as we trudge through winter cold and flu season? The best defense is a good offense: sleep well, eat well, get all the recommend immunizations (including the flu shot) and wash your hands regularly!
Sarah Silverman, MD is a Board Certified allergist at Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights, seeing patients on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, she was awarded her medical degree from Rush Medical College and completed her residency in internal medicine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and her fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. Dr. Silverman focuses her practice on pediatric and adult allergy evaluation and management as well as immune deficiency evaluation. She evaluates and treats a variety of conditions including asthma, hay fever, eczema, sinus issues, hives, and allergies to foods, insects, and drug use. A member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the New York Allergy and Asthma Society, Dr. Silverman has presented at regional and national conferences on issues related to primary immunodeficiency.
Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights is a two-floor multispecialty group practice with a walk-in urgent care center and more than 36 specialties, including adolescent medicine, allergy, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, internal medicine, maternal and fetal medicine, neurology, OBGYN, orthopedics, pediatrics, podiatry, primary care, pulmonology, radiology, urology, and vascular surgery. The practice is located at 300 Cadman Plaza West, on the 17th and 18th floors. You can make appointments online at mountsinai.org/bh or zocdoc.com
Rebecca Conroy grew up in NYC and has been a Brooklynite for 20 years and is now the mom of two young kids. Aside from writing, she works in photo and film production and has a rich history in the visual arts. Being a Teaching Artist in NYC’s public school system for years has allowed her to work closely with children and her community.