My Allergist Dad

If running makes you wheeze, should you stop exercising… or do you actually need it more?

In this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z break down the real relationship between exercise and asthma — including why exercise doesn’t cause asthma, how it can act as a trigger, and what’s really going on inside your airways when you start wheezing. They talk through exercise-induced asthma, allergic inflammation, cold and dry air, pollution, and why swimming often feels easier than running.

You’ll also learn why treating your allergic triggers can raise your exercise tolerance, how pre-treating with inhalers actually works, and why frequent workouts can mean fewer asthma symptoms over time — not more.. Plus: breathing techniques, humid air hacks, and why the answer is almost always don’t skip the gym.

Got allergy questions? Email us [email protected]

Can you be allergic to your own hormones?

In this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z dig into why so many people—especially women—start developing hives, food sensitivities, and new immune reactions in their 30s and 40s. 

They break down how hormone shifts, estrogen dominance, autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s, and even “clean” products can push the immune system into overdrive. Dr. Z explains why many food reactions don’t show up on standard allergy tests, how mast cells respond to hormonal changes, and why inflammation—not the food itself—is often the real trigger.

You’ll also hear real patient stories, including how someone became reactive to their dish soap after avoiding previous allergens—and why adult-onset allergies are rarely random.

If you’ve ever asked:

• “Why am I suddenly reacting to foods I used to tolerate?”

• “Is this autoimmune, hormonal, or actually an allergy?”

• “Can hormone balance change how sensitive I am?”

This episode connects the dots—and helps you stop blaming yourself (or your dinner).

Got allergy questions? Email us at [email protected] 

Seasonal allergies don’t have to feel like a surprise attack every year. In this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z break down how allergies actually work — and more importantly, how to get ahead of them before pollen, dust mites, and mold take over your life.

They cover why dust mites are a year-round problem with a seasonal growth phase, how indoor humidity quietly makes symptoms worse, and the biggest mistakes people make when “cleaning for allergies.” Dr. Z also explains why timing matters — from when to start nasal sprays and antihistamines to how preseason allergy drops and shots can reduce symptoms before your season even starts.

Plus, they dig into some wild real-world cases involving exercise, mold exposure, and allergic reactions that weren’t caused by food at all — and how lifestyle factors like sleep, stress, and diet can affect how intense your allergies feel.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• Why your allergies feel worse some years than others

• Whether air purifiers actually help with dust mites

• How to prevent seasonal allergies instead of just reacting to them

This is the episode for you! 

Got allergy questions? Email us at [email protected]

Do natural and herbal remedies actually work for allergies, or is it mostly hype? In this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew poses that question to his dad, Dr. Z, a top allergist and immunologist, and the answers go way beyond “drink this tea.”

They break down real, evidence-backed options like quercetin with bromelain, nettle tea, probiotics, and vitamin C, and explain how food itself can act like medicine. You’ll learn why a diet full of fruits and vegetables can reduce inflammation, how your gut microbiome connects to allergies, and why lifestyle changes matter just as much as supplements.

Along the way, they talk dust mites, air-drying clothes, freezing stuffed animals, and whether honey makes a difference or is benefitting from the placebo effect. Then the episode turns personal as Dr. Z shares his own childhood battle with asthma and the moment that set him on the path to becoming an allergist.

It’s a mix of practical allergy advice, myth-busting, and a father-son story about learning how to breathe better—literally and figuratively. 

Have a question? email [email protected]

You grew up with pets. They slept on your bed. You were fine. Then you leave for college, come home for the holidays… and suddenly your own dog makes you break out in hives. What happened?

In this episode, Drew and his allergist dad, Dr. Z, unpack a listener’s question about “losing immunity” to pets—and whether that tolerance can come back. They explain how living with an animal can act like “natural allergy drops,” why time away can make symptoms feel way worse, and how stress, sleep, and college life can throw your immune system out of alignment.

You’ll learn the difference between true “immunity” and changing reactivity, why your body has an allergy threshold, and what to do if going home now feels like walking into a sneeze factory. From pre-gaming visits with meds to long-term sublingual immunotherapy, this episode offers practical ways to stay connected to your family and their pets—without suffering.

If you’ve ever wondered why your childhood dog suddenly feels like a biological weapon, this one’s for you.

Do you have questions? Email us at [email protected]

Itchy, blistering skin that won’t go away? Before you blame food, pets, or seasonal allergies, it might be allergic contact dermatitis, a delayed skin reaction caused by everyday products you don’t even realize are touching you.

In this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew sits down with his dad, Dr. Z, to break down what allergic contact dermatitis actually is, how it’s different from hives or classic allergies, and why antihistamines often don’t help. They share real patient stories involving shampoo, soap, shaving cream, lip balm, jeans buttons, hairdressers, hand sanitizer, and even “all-natural” products that turned out to be the real culprits.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between allergic reactions, irritant reactions, and contact dermatitis

• Why rashes can show up days after exposure

• What patch testing is and how it works

• Common ingredients in products like fragrancesfragrances, preservatives, metals, and dyes that cause reactions

• Why “natural” doesn’t always mean safe for your skin

If you’ve been itchy, miserable, or bouncing between doctors without answers, this episode might finally explain what your skin has been trying to tell you.

Have an allergy related question? Ask Dr. Z at [email protected]

A cough that just won’t go away can be exhausting and confusing. Is it allergies? A sinus infection? Acid reflux? Asthma? Or something left behind after COVID?

In this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew sits down with his dad, allergist and immunologist Dr. Z, to break down chronic cough—what it actually means, how it’s different from a short-term cough, and why so many people bounce between specialists without getting answers.

They walk through the four most common causes of chronic cough, including post-nasal drip from allergies or sinus infections, silent reflux, cough-variant asthma, and post-viral (including post-COVID) neurogenic cough. Dr. Z explains how these conditions overlap, how doctors narrow down the cause, and why treating the root problem—not just the cough—matters.

You’ll also hear why chronic cough can be so frustrating socially, why cough syrup often doesn’t help, and what new research is exploring for people whose cough doesn’t respond to standard treatments.

If you’ve been coughing for weeks (or longer) and wondering what’s going on, this episode will help you understand what questions to ask—and what might actually help.

As always, this show is for general informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice.

Ever bite into a raw apple and feel your mouth itch… but you’re totally fine if it’s cooked? You’re not imagining it -  and it might not be a true food allergy.

In this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew sits down with his dad, Dr. Z, a board-certified allergist and immunologist, to break down the surprising connection between seasonal allergies and food reactions. They explain oral allergy syndrome (also called pollen-food allergy syndrome), why foods like apples, peaches, nuts, and melons can trigger symptoms, and how pollen from trees like birch can be the real culprit.

You’ll learn:

• Why raw fruits and vegetables cause mouth and throat symptoms

• How pollen allergies can show up as “food allergies”

• The difference between mild oral reactions and real food allergy risk

• When allergy testing can be misleading

• How immunotherapy can reduce both seasonal and food-related symptoms

• Why “eating a little” matters more than people realize

They also get into desensitization, allergy drops vs shots, and why more exposure doesn’t always mean more tolerance.

If you’ve ever been confused about food reactions, allergy tests, or why your symptoms only happen certain times of year — this episode connects the dots.

 Have a question for Dr. Z? Listener questions drive the show.

[email protected]

Can you actually develop allergies as an adult?
If you swear you were never allergic to anything growing up—but now pollen, pets, foods, or random hives are ruining your life—you’re not imagining it.

In this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew sits down with his dad, board-certified allergist and immunologist Dr. Z, to break down adult-onset allergies and why they’re becoming more common. They talk about how stress, diet, hormones, pregnancy, illness, the microbiome, and even city living can quietly flip the switch on your immune system later in life.

You’ll hear:

• Why allergies are really a breakdown in tolerance

• How stress and poor sleep can make symptoms worse

• The role your gut, diet, and processed foods may play

• Why some “allergies” aren’t true allergies at all

• How hormones and pregnancy can trigger new reactions

• Why taking antihistamines every day might be masking the real issue

They also dig into food sensitivities, environmental triggers, post-pandemic immune changes, and why many people end up stuck in a cycle of self-medicating without answers.

As always, this episode mixes real medical insight with humor, relatable stories, and practical takeaways—so you can stop guessing and start understanding what your body’s doing.

Have a question for Dr. Z? There’s a link in the description to submit it and get it answered on a future episode.

email us - [email protected]

If bread makes you feel terrible, you’re not alone, and you’re probably not “allergic” either.

In this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew sits down with his allergist dad, a board-certified allergist and immunologist, to finally answer one of the most confusing food questions on the internet:

What’s the difference between gluten sensitivity, a real gluten allergy, and celiac disease?

We break down:

• Why most people who say they’re “allergic to gluten” technically aren’t

• What gluten sensitivity really is (and why it’s so common)

• How celiac disease is different from both an allergy and a sensitivity

• Why you might react to foods sometimes but not other times

• What “thresholds” have to do with gluten, dairy, alcohol, exercise, and stress

• Why some people can eat bread in Europe but not in the U.S.

• And how lactose intolerance fits into all of this (and the magic of Lactaid)

Along the way, we get into immune systems, food reactions that aren’t allergies, bathroom emergencies and Oregon Trail dysentery, and a genius Thanksgiving survival strategy!

If food messes with your stomach, skin, energy, or sanity - this episode will finally help it all make sense.

 Got a question? Leave a review or send it in to jump the line for future episodes.