6 2010 • WHO’S WHO IN BROOKLYN MEDICINE6 WHO’S WHO 2010

By Thomas Tracy

Brooklyn now has a home base in the ongo-ing war against every-

thing from pollen and dust mites to fatal reactions to peanuts, thanks to Dr. Gadi Avshalomov.

The board-certified spe-cialist in adult and pediatric allergies, asthma and clini-cal immunology opened his new Center for Allergy and Immunology at 2084 East 67th Street at Avenue U just last year.

“It has always been our plan to have a full-service center for those who suffer allergy and immunology conditions,” Dr. Avshalomov explained. “The center is really going to help a community that lacks these important services. I don’t know of any real center in

Brooklyn that dedicates itself wholly to allergy sufferers and asthmatics.”

The new center couldn’t have come at a more pivotal time. Brooklyn, as well as the rest of the world, is in the mid-dle of an “allergy and asthma epidemic,” Dr. Avshalomov explained. With each passing day, more and more people are diagnosed with allergies or have heard of someone who could have a fatal reac-tion to something as common as a peanut.

Dr. Avshalomov says that, according to recent studies, 20 percent of an urban popu-lation such as New York City suffers from regular allergies. Upwards of four percent of the population have allergic reactions to the proteins in peanuts and tree nuts.

“Allergies like this are becoming a bigger and big-ger problem in urban com-munities,” he said. “People are developing allergies to relatively banal products that anyone can find in their home or workplace.”

Dr. Avshalomov blames

what he calls the hygiene hypothesis for the epidemic.

Basically, 21st century residents are living in ultra-sterile homes. This lifestyle reduces the frequency of infectious illness. They can go their entire lives without being exposed to the germs and proteins they could have an allergic reaction to. As a result, the immune system finds other things to develop, such as allergies. When they are finally exposed, the reac-tions are far greater, he said.

Today these allergic curs-es can be thwarted at Dr. Avshalomov’s Center and his three-step approach to bat-tling most allergies.

First, the patient comes in for an appointment where their symptoms are scruti-nized and analyzed with the utmost care and attention.

Since he started practicing in 2000, Dr. Avshalomov has seen it all, from runny noses to rash-raw skin. Patients have come to him with ecze-ma and dermatitis, sinus and pulmonary problems all the way to having their throats

swollen closed.Through a battery of tests,

Dr. Avshalomov begins to root out suspects – the allergens that are causing the uncom-fortable physical reactions that patients are suffering from.

He notes that most patients suffer from environmental allergies – dust mites, cats and dogs, pollen or seasonal changes.

Many also suffer from “benign neglect,” he said.

“Many times the symp-toms start out small, so they don’t seek an allergist’s help,” he said. “They fall into a trap that only leads to more severe symptoms. They then try to treat the problem with over-the-counter drugs. But after they try about 10 to 20 differ-ent pills and all the sprays, they’re still suffering because those medications are noth-ing more than Band-Aids. The only effective treatment is an allergy shot.”

Once the tests are complet-ed, Dr. Avshalomov goes to his new state-of-the-art lab in the center and arrests these aller-gic reactions with custom-made sera and allergy shots.

For patients with severe food allergies, Dr. Avshalomov carefully takes them through every step of the process. He also develops an action plan with them so both the patient and their families know how to respond when an emergen-cy reaction – which could be quite dangerous – takes hold.

He also has a special respi-ratory lab where patients walk on treadmills and are put through a variety of exercise techniques so Dr. Avshalomov can accurately pinpoint just how activity and stress trigger their asthma.

“These techniques have been around, but most patients don’t have access to them. That’s the void we would like to fill. That is the service we would like to pro-vide our community.

The 1, 2, 3 approach to battling allergies

Dr. Gadi Avshalomov ALLERGIST

Dr. Gadi Avshalomov2084 East 67th Streetat Avenue U718-444-8014

SPECIALIZES IN:Adult and Children Allergies, Asthma and Immunology

HOURS:Mondays 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

INSURANCE:Most private insurances Public Transportation:The 3 and 41 buses to Avenue U.

PARKING:Parking lot outside of office.Handicap accessible

Appointments preferred, walk-ins accepted.

Dr. Avshalomov gives Ricardo a breathing test.

Diagnosis & Care of Asthma & Rhinitis Eczema & Dermatitis Diagnosis & Treatment Allergy Testing Allergen Immunotherapy Insect Sting Allergy Food Allergy

Most insurance plans accepted

Faster DiagnosisMeans Faster Relief!

2084 East 67th StreetBrooklyn, NY 11234

718.444.8014560 Northern Blvd. Great Neck 516-726-1771175 Jericho Turnpike 516-921-6780

GET YOUR ALLERGY RELIEF RIGHT HERE!

New patients welcome

CENTER FOR ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY

Gadi Avshalomov, MDBoard Certified in Adult & Pediatric Allergy & Asthma

Hay fever? Asthma? Sinusitis? Chronic cough? Itchy eyes? Sneezing?