The Specialists At AllergyTampa.com Can Help Alleviate Allergy Issues
By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN
It’s the height of the allergy season,
and even amidst the coronavirus scare,
Drs. Lockey, Ledford, Glaum, Cho and
Pepper continue to see patients, while following
all of the recommendations of the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
& Prevention and taking precautions to
protect both patients and staff.
“We have patients with severe asthma,”
says Richard Lockey, M.D. “Without
us, they would be in the hospital, where
they would be at much greater risk.”
Keeping his patients healthy and
out of the hospital is what medicine is all
about, he adds.
The five doctors are a team of
Board-certified allergists and immunologists
found online at AllergyTampa.
com. They all treat patients in private
practice and also conduct research at
the University of South Florida (USF)
Division of Allergy & Immunology Clinical
Research Unit (CRU). The private
practice office and CRU make up the
top floor of a medical building near the
corner of E. Fletcher Ave. and Bruce B.
Downs (BBD) Blvd.
In addition to that main office, the
practice also has offices in South Tampa
(on Platt St.) and Citrus Park (on Gunn
Hwy.). The physicians manage a variety
of disorders related to
allergies, asthma and
immunology, including
food allergies, rhinitis
(inflammation and
swelling of the mucous
membranes of the nose,
often referred to as hay
fever), cough, laryngitis,
headaches and immune
disorders. These specialists
also treat allergic
reactions and immune
responses resulting in
rashes and dermatitis.
Keeping people
with asthma out of the
hospital during the
coronavirus scare is one
thing, but Dr. Lockey
emphasizes that in the
many decades he has
been practicing medicine,
there has been a
complete revolution in
the way that people can
be treated.
“Asthma is now
Dr. Richard Lockey of AllergyTampa.com, says that with the
revolutionary medical advances and medicines available today,
no one should have to suffer from asthma. (Photo: Charmaine
the most treatable of all chronic diseases
known to humankind,” says Dr. Lockey.
“If a patient today is getting appropriate
care, they should never end up in the
ER for an asthma attack.”
In fact, he says, the medications that
are available today makes it so that no
asthmatic should never have to suffer.
“That’s revolutionary in my lifetime,”
Dr. Lockey says.
He adds that he often sees patients
who have suffered for years because they
didn’t get appropriate or adequate care
and they didn’t know better.
“That’s not necessary anymore,”
Dr. Lockey says. “You might need
different care, you might need to see
someone who specializes in asthma, or
you might need a different medication.”
He adds, “Many drugs that are currently
used by asthmatics, we helped develop
at USF in our clinical research unit.”
For some patients, like Dr. Lockey’s
patient Scott Mercer, it’s a fairly new
medication that helps them finally live
life normally.
While Mercer says he spent most of
his life taking steroidal anti-inflammatory
medicine to control his asthma, Dr.
Lockey put him on a newer medication
more than 10 years ago.
“For years, I was in and out of the
hospital, tried every study there was,”
Mercer says. “But now, it’s like I can do
just about anything anybody else does.”
Mercer says the way Dr. Lockey has
treated his asthma has given him complete
confidence in his physician.
“I trust him a lot,” Scott says.
“He’s the best doctor around.”
Patients Benefit From Research
What sets the practice apart from
other groups is the relationship the
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