Let‘s Clear the Air! All Things Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

In this episode of Let's Clear the Air, Dr. Nicholas Cline talks with host Marcella Feathers about a process known as Oral Food Challenge.

Used to either clear or definitively determine a food allergy, the oral food challenge takes place in a controlled setting. For folks who may have been food allergic but are now testing negative via a skin test, or for anyone who has a blood test result of 2 or less, a food challenge can provide certainty. By introducing the allergic food in small, increasing doses, your allergist can watch for reactions, such as a drop in blood pressure, hives, and wheezing, and respond accordingly. 

Listen to learn more about who is a good candidate for an oral food challenge and how the certainty of a diagnosis (or lack thereof) can be empowering.

Host Liz Edwards introduces us to Dr. Pragya Shrestha, a deeply caring and naturally curious board-certified allergist at our Middle Tennessee clinics.

Originally from Nepal, Dr. Shrestha has extensive experience in allergy, asthma and immunology. She has worked and trained at Reading Hospital in Pennsylvania, Mayo Clinic, and Vanderbilt. Curious about the workings of the human body at a young age, she was able to solidify her interest in the medical field by volunteering at a hospital during high school. After seeing the depth and scope of the field of allergy, asthma and immunology, Dr. Shrestha was ready to combine her love of deep investigative work to uncovering the root cause of allergic and asthmatic symptoms.

Dr. Shrestha's devotion to making a significant difference in her patients' lives is obvious. From enabling them to overcome seasonal allergy symptoms, to improving an eczema or urticaria patient's confidence, to seeing a child's excitement at his first successful bite of Nutella during a food challenge, Dr. Shrestha thrives on seeing her patients thrive!

Learn more about Dr. Pragya Shrestha's passions and curiosities in this episode of "Let's Clear the Air!" 

Join us as host Marcella Feathers talks with board-certified allergist Dr. Phil Jones about overcoming the effects of asthma. To paraphrase Dr. Jones: you shouldn't accept the symptoms of asthma...you should be able to do anything you want to do!

Dr. Jones starts by defining asthma and its different triggers, explaining the relevance of chronic, episodic, and hyper-responsive reactions. He also explains how infectious diseases can trigger asthma in adults and what various treatments are available. As asthma specialists, allergists can provide very unique, individualized treatment plans to ensure patients' specific symptoms don't interfere with daily activities.

Learn how the affects of asthma can be reversed, why Dr. Jones tells patients that lung health is tied to nose health, and why physicians avoid prescribing alternative options (labeled "food supplements") as medication--all in this episode of Let's Clear the Air!

Host Liz Edwards introduces us to Dr. Paul Carter, a man of many interests and skills!

Dr. Carter shares how he landed on allergy, asthma and immunology as a career after spending time as an EMT, paramedic, and trauma surgeon (to name a few). 

Dr. Carter is also walking proof of the effectiveness of allergy shots. Allergic to cats and horses, he now owns three cats and enjoys attending equestrian-themed shows. 

Listen as he shares about his time in the Air Force, including his current service with the Air National Guard, working at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and how we can avoid severe allergy symptoms with allergy shots, a way to "healthy up" our immune systems!

 

Spring and summer mean warmer weather and fresh fruit and vegetables. But if you've noticed your lips or mouth itching or tingling after eating a raw fruit or vegetable, you may have OAS. 

Oral Allergy Syndrome (also known as Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome) can occur when people who suffer from certain tree, grass, or weed pollens eat specific fruits, vegetables, or nuts.

Dr. Phil Jones explains why this cross-reactivity occurs and how you may be able to minimize your discomfort while still enjoying the fruits of the season! For more information on OAS and a helpful pollen-food association chart, visit our web page: https://www.allergyasc.com/oas. 

Let's get to know Dr. Nicholas Cline!

Dr. Cline completed his medical degree at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and his residency at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine in Knoxville. His love for the field of allergy and immunology was sparked during his allergy rotation. A long-term sufferer of allergies himself, Dr. Cline discovered not only his medical calling but also a diagnosis and lasting relief!

After UT, Dr. Cline moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he completed his fellowship training at the acclaimed Cleveland Clinic. Working with more than 30 faculty in the specialty, Dr. Cline was able to experience and learn from a wide array of cases and clinical solutions. 

Listen as Dr. Nicholas Cline shares his intense commitment to helping patients understand their diagnoses and treatment plans, his lasting appreciation for his time at Cleveland Clinic, and his extensive knowledge of all things allergy – from Georgia to Ohio, through Kentucky to Tennessee.  

Host Liz Edwards speaks with Dr. Poneh Heine about "all things" related to spring allergy season.

Georgia is already seeing lots of tree and grass pollen, starting this spring with a bang! Dr. Heine shares how you can navigate this season and upcoming ones as pollen counts continue to climb. (While medications can help, Dr. Heine explains why they're not a long-term solution, especially when the pollen count can exceed 8,000 per cubic meter!)

With skin testing and allergy shots, you can avoid the drowsy, drying side effects of allergy medications. Learn how immunotherapy can help your immune system keep from over-reacting to pollens and other allergens. Also, Dr. Heine shares how her daughter's allergic eye reactions led to oral allergy syndrome, causing mouth irritation whenever she ate apples or carrots.

You can avoid worsening inflammation, irritations like OAS, and infections. Listen to this episode to learn how.

We're excited to introduce one of our newest providers, Nurse Practitioner Sharon Lever!

After several years as a respiratory therapist in New Hampshire, Sharon went back to school to achieve her ultimate goal of becoming a nurse practitioner, focusing on pulmonology and then transitioning into the allergy field. 

Sharon is a certified asthma educator and a competitive trapshooter! She's also ready to explore all the area offers, including regional NASCAR tracks.

Listen to learn more about Nurse Practitioner Sharon Lever, her love of treating patients, and why we're excited to welcome her to our practice.

 

Our pollen counts have begun for 2025, but what's involved in counting the pollen and why should we care?

Dr. Laura Green talks with host Marcella Feathers about how the pollen count is gathered and why awareness of the day's count can be important for allergic and asthmatic folks.

From tree pollens traveling hundreds of miles to the tenacity of mold spores here in the South, listen as Dr. Green provides insight into our ever-worsening pollen seasons and possible solutions for seasonal and year-round sufferers. (Sign up for weekday pollen counts here.)

Host Liz Edwards and Dr. Michael Norvell jump right into spring allergies! Did you know that in Middle Tennessee, tree pollen starts to show in late February, sometimes even sooner? Now is the time to be prepared.

Dr. Norvell offers tips for when over-the-counter medications aren't helping or when you're not sure what's causing your symptoms. In either situation, he urges patients to err on the side of caution. The sooner you know, the sooner you can feel better. 

Dr. Norvell shares insight on skin testing, easing fears for any needle-phobic patients, and how allergy shots are different from the often confused steroid shots, too. 

He also explains when patients can expect relief if new to immunotherapy and how this "modification" of the immune system is customized to each patient's specific need.

Learn how to be prepared this spring, whether new to the Nashville/Middle Tennessee area or a native, by listening to this episode of Let's Clear the Air!