Quality of life is incredibly important to us. As a provider of specialty therapies used to treat allergy and immunology conditions, we see the challenges our patients face. We know that each individual’s experience is different related to their symptoms and therapy. Although 1 in 3 Americans are impacted by asthma or allergies, we don’t see you as a number or statistic. To us, you are part of our family. There is currently no cure for asthma or allergies, but both can be appropriately managed and allow you to lead a full life. We are here to support you right where you’re at so that you can overcome the hurdles related to your health, comfort, and happiness.

What is Quality of Life?

"Quality of Life" is defined as the standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual or group. The CDC states, “Health is more than the absence of disease; it is a resource that allows people to realize their aspirations, satisfy their needs, and to cope with the environment to live a long, productive, and fruitful life.”

Quality of life asks questions like, “Do you perceive that your life is going well?” This question must consider your joy and grief, housing, employment, relationships, and overall sense of well-being. These factors are not easy to measure since well-being is a subjective concept, but these areas are critical to painting a picture of your quality of life.

What types of challenges do allergy/immunology patients face?

No two patients are the same, and neither is their experience with an allergy or immunology condition. When you come on our service to treat your allergy or immunology condition, our team considers multiple lifestyle factors when building your customized plan. We partner with your physician and you to ensure you have a care plan tailored to your specific needs.

Many patients with an allergy or immunology condition have reported the following:

• Feeling discomfort from symptoms during a flare-up. Many allergy or immunology conditions can cause discomfort for the patient. Each situation is different, but many patients may experience difficulty breathing, fatigue, chest tightness or pain, and more. These symptoms can potentially be life-threatening or interfere with how a patient feels throughout the day, making it critical to find ways to avoid triggers and manage symptoms when they arise.
• Difficulty avoiding triggers in public spaces, at school, or work. Patients with allergy or immunology conditions, especially with asthma, often take preventative measures to avoid “triggers” that could agitate them. Common triggers include air pollution, pet dander, tobacco smoke, pests, mold or mildew, cleaners or disinfectants, fragrances, etc. While it may be easier to avoid triggers in their own home, it can be more challenging in public settings. Learning how to communicate with others about the types of things that can trigger a flare-up may help.
• Feelings of isolation or frustration. It’s easy to feel alone or frustrated when dealing with an acute or chronic health condition – but our team here at Paragon is ready to support you every step of the way. You are not alone. We are here to help provide you with clinical resources, education, and more so that you can successfully manage your allergy or immunology condition.
• Feeling discouraged through the process of finding a therapy that works. Learning what works best for a patient takes time. This can be challenging, especially when it would be ideal to have immediate results when trying a new therapy. Our team will work with each patient and their physician to navigate finding the best regimen for the individual.
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There is hope. Our heart is to see you thrive in life and reach each goal you set for yourself, big or small. There are multiple online resources, community support groups, specialty therapies, and helpful information available. Whether you have been diagnosed with eosinophilic asthma, allergic asthma, or another condition, we’re here to provide the infusible and injectable therapies needed to manage your symptoms and condition. Together with your physician, caregivers, and family, we believe you can live your life to its fullest.

What resources are available to allergy and immunology patients?

• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America – “The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1953, is the leading patient organization for people with asthma and allergies and the oldest asthma and allergy patient group in the world.”
• American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology – “The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology is dedicated to the advancement of the knowledge and practice of allergy, asthma, and immunology for optimal patient care.”
• American Lung Association – “The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education, and advocacy. Our work is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; champion clean air for all; improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families, and create a tobacco-free future.”
• Allergy & Asthma Network – “At Allergy & Asthma Network, we are here to serve and support you. We work with national and local partners to train healthcare professionals and host events and screenings that reach people directly in their communities. We raise awareness and educate millions each year with easy-to-understand, medically reviewed resources in English and Spanish. We advocate at the federal and state levels to improve access to care and affordable medications. We work to ensure the patient voice is included in research and drug development.”

As the healthcare industry shifts to focusing on allergy and immunology patients’ experience, physicians and providers alike are recognizing that happy and healthy patients are the sum total of a positive physical, mental, and emotional state. Quality of life is a term used to encompass more than just a patient’s physical symptoms from their health condition. Our goal is to empower you to take charge of your health by learning practical ways to manage your condition.

For more information about Paragon Healthcare, visit https://paragonhealthcare.com/.