EP #98: Finding Relief: A Conversation with Dr. William Storms of Aspire Allergy and Sinus

What makes Dr. William Storms with Aspire Allergy and Sinus a good neighbor?  

Struggling with seasonal sniffles, persistent coughs, or sinus problems that just won't quit? Dr. William Storms brings decades of specialized expertise to this eye-opening conversation about allergy management that goes far beyond over-the-counter solutions.

As the founder of what's now Aspire Allergy and Sinus (previously the William Storms Allergy Clinic), Dr. Storms shares why most people wait too long before seeking specialized allergy care. He reveals how allergies silently impact your cognitive function, work performance, and even your children's grades. The consequences of untreated allergies – from chronic sinus infections to asthma development – make early intervention crucial.

Most surprising is Dr. Storms' perspective on common pharmacy medications: "Do you want to take those all your life? There are better ways." He outlines three innovative treatment approaches that build immunity against allergens rather than merely masking symptoms. These solutions include traditional allergy shots, convenient at-home sublingual drops, and a groundbreaking three-injection protocol called exact immunoplasty that delivers meaningful results with minimal time commitment.

The conversation takes a personal turn when Dr. Storms shares how the Vietnam-era doctor draft unexpectedly brought him to Colorado, where he's been treating patients ever since. His journey from Wisconsin to establishing multiple clinics across Colorado's Front Range illustrates how sometimes life's unexpected turns lead to fulfilling opportunities.

Don't miss Dr. Storms' practical advice for determining when it's time to see a specialist and what to expect during allergy testing (hint: it's much less intimidating than most people fear). If allergies or asthma affect your quality of life or a loved one's, this episode provides a roadmap to lasting relief. Discover more about Aspire Allergy and Sinus by visiting their website or calling 719-955-6000 to schedule an appointment at one of their multiple Colorado locations.

To learn more about Aspire Allergy and Sinus go to: 

https://www.aspireallergy.com/

Aspire Allergy and Sinus

719-955-6000

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Tony Hills.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of a greatallergy and asthma doctor?
One might be closer than youthink.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing our good neighbor,
dr William Storms, with AspireAllergy and Sinus.
Dr Storms, how's it going?

Speaker 3 (00:27):
Pretty good, tony.
William Storms with AspireAllergy and Sinus.
Dr Storms, how's it going?
Pretty good, tony.
Thanks for having me.
As you mentioned, I'm withAspire Allergy and Sinus,
previously known as the WilliamStorms Allergy Clinic.
That's me.
You know.
We have clinics in Pueblo,three clinics in Colorado
Springs, castle Rock, pueblo.
Three clinics in ColoradoSprings, castle Rock, centennial

(00:49):
, lakewood.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
Basically it's allergy and sinus, but we also
treat a lot of asthma, skinallergies, food allergies, all
those types of things.
Okay, awesome, how can anallergy?

Speaker 3 (01:06):
specialist help me Well.
First, seasonal allergies arethe most common.
So that would be your springand summer allergies sneezing,
runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing, post nasal drip and in order
to treat those you really needto know what you have.
In other words, is it trees is?
Is it grass?
Is this your cat or dog?
Because then you can treat whatyou're allergic to.

(01:29):
So in order to do that, we doallergy skin tests that tells us
what you're allergic to.
Then we can treat you.
A lot of people go to the drugstore, pharmacy, grocery store,
they get some zyrtec or theythey get Allegra and they get a
nose spray and they take that.
But do you want to take thoseall your life?
There are better ways to handlethat.

Speaker 2 (01:53):
Okay, what should I see?
An allergist for allergies andasthma.

Speaker 3 (01:57):
Well, the first thing is to decide how much trouble
you're having, and let's justtalk about seasonal allergies
first.
That's easy.
If you have symptoms and youneed medicine more than a total
of six to eight weeks per year,that's the time to start
thinking.
The reason for that is numberone.
These seasonal allergies canaffect your total lifestyle

(02:20):
activities of daily living.
In other words, you can bedrowsy because you don't sleep
well at night maybe a snore.
You roll around next day.
You're kind of tired.
Cognitive thinking ispotentially messed up.
You know tax season comesaround now.
We want to do the right thingon our taxes.
You got to do the numbers andif you're not thinking properly

(02:41):
it doesn't work.
It affects school performance.
Kids with seasonal allergiesdon't do as well.
They get poor grades.
So you don't wait until you'rehaving a lot of trouble.
You catch it early.
Come in, see us.
Let's figure out what it is,give you a treatment plan.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
Okay, tell me about allergy skin testing.

Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yes, that's the way we determine what you're
allergic to, and there's noreason again to wait until you
have a lot of trouble.
In fact, the longer you wait,the harder it may be to treat.
Skin testing is done withlittle scratches on your back
and then a few tests on the arm.
People think, oh, I'm scared ofthose skin tests.
Well, you don't have to bescared of skin tests.

(03:25):
We have kids that are threeyears old, fighters or eight
years old.
Come in, they do fine, so Iwouldn't worry about skin tests.
If you're concerned about that,just go ahead and get it done
okay, so how can I listen tobenefit about allergy?

(03:46):
Well, the allergy shots are thebest way to treat these
allergies because they build upimmunity against your allergies.
What we do is give an injectionof the thing you're allergic to
after we find out what you'reallergic to, and that builds
immunity so your allergies goaway.
So you don't need the pills andthe nose spray.
You don't get all the secondaryissues with allergies, like

(04:06):
sinus disease, ear infections,post-nasal drip, chronic cough,
asthma.
Not only do we have shots, wealso have allergy drops.
So it's the same type oftreatment, but it's drops under
the tongue.
You do it at home, you don'thave to come to the office.
But it's drops under the tongue, you do it at home, you don't

(04:26):
have to come to the office.
There's a third thing calledexact immunoplasty, where we
inject the allergens into alymph node in the leg and that's
just three injections one monthapart each, rather than the
weekly allergy shots or thedaily drops.
But they're very effective,build up immunity, so your
allergies are much better okay,all right.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
Dr storms when you're not treating your patients and
you're done with work.
What do you like to do for fun?

Speaker 3 (04:57):
well, I've been around a few years and back in
the day I played a lot of racketsports, played a lot of tennis,
did a lot of running, did a lotof skiing.
As I get a little older, nowI'm basically doing fly fishing
and golf and just general hikingaround the area, which is

(05:21):
wonderful.
That's why we moved herebecause of the Colorado
lifestyle.

Speaker 2 (05:29):
Okay, awesome, let's switch gears.
Can you describe a hardship orlife challenge you overcame, how
it made you stronger and whatcomes to mind?

Speaker 3 (05:38):
Well, you know, I've been very lucky in life.
I haven't had what I callextreme hardships.
For instance, I went to medicalschool, did my internship, then
I got a fellowship internalmedicine, got board certified in
internal medicine.
Then I got a fellowship inallergy and got board certified

(06:03):
in allergy.
And that was a few years ago.
So it turns out that I was inthe doctor draft at the end of
Vietnam.
So I was in Wisconsin.
I thought I'd live there all mylife and I get drafted, sent to
Fort Carson Well, I didn't knowanything about Fort Carson.
Sent to Fort Carson Well, Ididn't know anything about Fort

(06:25):
Carson, never been here.
And they set me up as head ofthe allergy clinic fine with me.
Then I meet some people in townand next thing, you know, I
have an offer for a job and I'vebeen here ever since.
So for me it's just a matter ofI got lucky doors open and I
went in.

Speaker 2 (06:51):
I got lucky doors opened and I went in.
Okay, that's awesome.

Speaker 3 (06:54):
Dr Storms, please tell our listeners one thing
they should remember aboutAspire, Allergy and sinus.
Well, don't wait until you'rehaving a lot of troubles,
because allergists can help youquite a bit if you catch it
early.
And that could be for yourseasonal allergies, for your
allergy sinus issues, especiallyfor asthma.
If you have asthma, you got tojump on that early because

(07:17):
allergies are a major factor inasthma.
Unless you figure them out,you're going to have more and
more asthma.
And it's a simple procedure,Doesn't take very long.
We do the allergy skin test,get you on a good treatment plan
and you're on your way.

Speaker 2 (07:34):
That's awesome.
How can our listeners learnmore about Aspire, allergy and
Sinus?

Speaker 3 (07:38):
Well, the website Aspire Allergy and Sinus that's
the easiest way you can actuallyget an appointment there or
phone number, or 719-955-6000.
And I have another doctor thatworks with me.
I have five nurse practitionersand PAs and, as I mentioned,

(08:00):
we're covering the entire frontrange Colorado Springs, pueblo,
castle Rock, centennial andLakewood.

Speaker 2 (08:12):
Wow Well, Dr Storms, I really appreciate you being on
the show.
We wish you and your businessmuch success moving forward.

Speaker 3 (08:19):
Appreciate it, Tony.
Thanks for the discussion.

Speaker 1 (08:24):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go toGNPColoradoSpringscom.
That's GNPColoradoSpringscom,or call 719-679-4720.