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Evelyn Tolston, M.D. "New York Top Doctor"
You can reach us by phone, e-mail or fax with questions or appointment requests. We post updates and reminders to our website regularly, so please check in frequently.
Please note: Pollen levels are extremely high this season. Please take all necessary precautions. Take your required asthma and allergy medications and carry your Epi pen, and make sure you follow-up with your physician for all your medical needs.
WHAT'S NEW We are expanding our practice to the meet the needs of our patients. Allergy and Immunology on Madison has added other locations that will allow us to treat the growing number of patients who are seeking specialized care for their specific condition. Adding more locations allows us to accommodate our expanding patient base and also offer our patients greater convenience. We know the stresses of everyday life and medical illnesses can take their toll on our patients. On staff we have Dr. Sophia Gekker, specializing in adult and pediatric psychiatry. Dr. Gekker is here for all our patients' needs. Our medical practice manager, Ms. Anne Scalogna, is available. She brings to our practice many years of her expertise and experience.
Great news!
Latest news! According to a group of Harvard researchers focused on nearly 1200 women and their babies during and after pregnancy - "what they found?" - for every 100 units of vitamin D consumed during pregnancy, there was a dramatic decrease in the risk of wheezing incidents and the high risk of asthma in babies up to age 3 (fortified dairy products like skim milk, low-fat yogurt, low-fat ice cream, or from a supplement). Vitamin D has also been shown to have immunologic effects. To our parents and students who are interested in having Dr. Tolston be a guest speaker at their school, please contact our office.
ALLERGY UPDATE & PATIENT INFORMATION! Enjoy the Spring/Summer Season - Stay Ahead of Your Allergies and Asthma This time of year can be very wonderful and yet can be challenging for people with allergies and asthma. The spring/summer season can present many health challenges, unique to this time of year. Now that your schedule is lighter, let's get back on track with a good healthy routine of exercise and eating right! Surviving--and enjoying--the spring and summer is easier when you plan ahead and take preventive action. Providing our patients with the most updated information and tips will help you get through this season.
Enjoy the spring and summer and relax on your vacation!
Have You Heard!!! Again, please read labels: cereal boxes and all food packages, skin products. Apples for asthma - Keeps the doctor away. Kiwis are loaded with Vitamin C. Tomatoes, carrots, and leafy greens could lower your risk for asthma, according to a new study by the National Institute of Public Health. These vegetables are high in vitamin A, which helps regulate the immune system and maintain the lining of your respiratory tract. Asthma: Do The Changing of Seasons Trigger Your Asthma and Allergies? Asthma affects up to 20 million Americans, and sufferers are sensitive to environmental triggers. Some triggers are obvious such as allergens (pollens, pet dander, etc.), irritants (strong perfume, pollutants, chemicals), tobacco smoke, and infectious agents (viruses that cause colds). However, some triggers aren't obvious. Changes in atmosphere (colder temperatures, changes in humidity), physical exertion, and even emotionally charged situations that precipitate anxiety, crying, and laughter can cause an asthma attack. When most of us think of asthma, we imagine a person who is fine one minute, then short of breath and wheezing the next. In fact, many with asthma feel pretty good until something exacerbates their condition. But because the illness is chronic, they need constant treatment, even when they feel well. If you suspect that you have asthma, the first step is to have your doctor run a few tests to see how well you can move air in and out of your lungs. Once your doctor confirms a diagnosis, the treatment options vary widely depending on the severity of your symptoms. Having said that, treatment for asthma also needs to be individualized. Not everyone responds the same way to various medications that are available to treat the disease. Asthma medications fall into two broad categories: those used for long term control and those used to treat acute symptoms. Short-term bronchodilators, used to treat an acute attack, open the airways by relaxing the muscles that have constricted around them. There are some long-acting bronchodilators, but the most effective asthma treatment programs should incorporate anti-inflammatory medicines. Regularly using anti-inflammatory medications (the second broad category of drugs to treat asthma) decreases the frequency and severity of the attacks. Examples of anti-inflammatory medicines include corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, and mast cell stabilizers, which can be used to more effectively control underlying inflammatory problems. Another thought: many people who suffer from asthma also have allergies. Effectively treating the allergies (even with allergy shots) improves the asthma. Of course not all asthma medications are alike, nor are they meant to be. By working with your doctor, you can customize a treatment plan that will be the most effective for you, which in turn will help you breathe more easily. Cool air/windy, rainy days can be less delightful for people with asthma and other breathing difficulties. Please wear your hats and scarves over your face or consider buying a warming mask. Also, you are under the usual stresses and emotions are running high. If you work or have outdoor activities that keep you outside for long periods of time, consult your physician for the best preventive course of treatment. Symptoms of asthma are:
Mold Allergies: April Showers Bring More Than Flowers
Food Allergies: The chance of an accidental ingestion of the foods that can cause an allergic reaction may increase during this season. It can take only a tiny amount of the offending food to trigger a potentially dangerous reaction. Remember, the most common food allergies are: Be prepared by having "self injectable epinephrine" when attending parties and PLEASE inform family and friends of your condition. If you have children, remember to pack their snacks so they don't feel left out. This will insure that your child has something safe to eat. AVOID the following foods if you are allergic to their main ingredient (such as eggs, milk, wheat and nuts):
Symptoms of food allergies can be: Remember, the best treatment for a food allergy is strict avoidance of the allergy-causing foods. Immunodeficiency Let's talk about immunodeficiency. How do you know if you are immuno deficient? Generally, everyone gets infections but people who are immuno deficient have more frequent infections and they can be severe with snore complications. In addition, the infections usually do not go away without being treated with antibiotics and most often reoccur after antibiotic treatment. These patients may need several courses of antibiotics during the course of the year. The infections can develop in certain areas of the body: bones, joints, liver, heart and brain. Remember that the frequency of infections is very important. Your Allergist/Immunologist can determine if you are immunodeficient. Take for instance: a preschooler can get several ear infections, which can be normal for that age group. But for someone who is older it is abnormal.
If you have experienced any of the above please contact Dr. Tolston's office or your family physician, who can refer you to an Allergist/Immunologist. Then you can have a complete evaluation. Your doctor can give you more information on recurrent infections, immunodeficiency and treatments like IVIG--intravenous immunoglobulins. Basically, it replaces the antibodies that your body cannot make. Remember that early treatment can prevent serious complications, reduce the number of infections and make your immune system stronger. Travel Health Tips
As always, Dr. Tolston and staff are here to answer all your questions and concerns. We only want the best care for all our patients.
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Allergy and Immunology on Madison
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Allergy and Immunology on Madison (AIM), based in New York City, has many years of experience building strong relationships between patients, doctors, and staff. We pride ourselves on using the newest, most advanced techniques in the fields of allergies, immunology and asthma. 
