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January as it marks the beginning of a new year, is by far one of the most exciting months! Children start new school semesters, adults may begin new jobs in new locations, and everyone is setting resolutions to make this year better than the last. Depending on your industry, there are quite a few cities you may find yourself moving to in the new year. With new cities come new opportunities, new experiences, but also for those who suffer from allergies, new allergens and triggers to be aware of. Las Vegas is one such city you may find yourself in!

If you plan to live in Las Vegas or Henderson, NV, you have some great times ahead. Here are some reasons why Las Vegas is a great choice.

1. Weather

Many people don’t know Vegas’s beautiful weather. It has an average temperature of roughly 72 degrees all year round. Las Vegas weather is ideal for nearly any activity you can imagine. You can take a quick dip in the pool, or a morning jog before heading out is enjoyable due to the weather.

2. Entertainment Value

Las Vegas is the perfect city for people who want to live in a metropolitan area. The city offers a variety of entertainment and attractions. These include natural wonders, historical sites, and a slew of other things.

3. Culture and Diversity

Las Vegas is one of the most diverse cities in the country. It has more than 2.2 million people from different cultures and ethnicities. Las Vegas’ culture is defined by camaraderie, charity, and civic engagement.

4. Outdoor Activities Available Here

Las Vegas is not just about gambling and adult entertainment. Vegas has many fun outdoor activities you can enjoy with your friends and family.

Some of the top outdoor activities in Las Vegas including canyoneering or hiking down into and traversing along a dry riverbed, hiking through mountains or parks, skiing and snow boarding one of the several ski resorts near Mt. Charleston.

5. Las Vegas is Full of Opportunities

Las Vegas offers something for everyone. Do you love music? There are thousands of concerts here yearly, including the world’s biggest names. Are you a sports fan? There are tons of sporting events to watch at the casinos. There are always significant games on TV. Do you like gambling? There are hundreds of things to do involving gambling, from slot machines to blackjack and poker.

Top 5 Things to do in the Las Vegas area:

• Hoover Dam

It’s hard to imagine what Las Vegas would be like today without the Hoover Dam. The dam, which sits about 30 minutes southeast of Las Vegas, spans the Black Canyon of the Colorado River and forms the southern terminus of Lake Mead. Technically, it’s what’s called an arch-gravity dam, meaning that it’s curved in such a way that water pressing on it makes it stronger.

• Seven Magic Mountains

The seven rock towers that comprise the Seven Magic Mountains installation in the Mojave Desert — a quick 15 minutes south of Las Vegas — rise from the drab landscape like rainbow-colored totems.

• Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

It’s about 20 degrees cooler at Spring Mountains than on the Valley floor. Known also as Mount Charleston, temperatures in the park usually run about 20 degrees cooler than on the Valley floor. It’s one of the only places in Nevada where you’ll find bristlecone pines, among the oldest life forms on Earth.

• Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Rock-climbing, mountain-biking, hiking, pictograph-hunting, botany-identifying, wildlife-watching and bouldering are among popular activities at Red Rock Canyon. Visitors can access most trailheads off the 13-mile scenic driving loop, which meanders past an informative visitor center in the first few miles.

• Lake Las Vegas

The 320-acre Lake Las Vegas, about 40 minutes southeast of the Strip, is a recreation hotspot, with local outfitters renting kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and rowboats to poke around the shoreline. The lake also is a popular destination for golfers, as it’s surrounded by three different courses including Reflection Bay, which has been ranked as one of the top 100 courses in the world by Golf Magazine.

You may have discovered these allergens:

People choose to live in beautiful southern Nevada for a myriad of reasons. Some seek a lower cost of living, while others relocate for work or even a fulfilling retirement lifestyle. Many of them believe the common myth that their seasonal allergies will vanish like a desert mirage when they arrive. While they may experience a brief reprieve as their system adjusts, it turns out the Las Vegas area boasts a robust menu of airborne allergens that wreak havoc on its residents, both new and seasoned. The dry climate makes allergies even worse thanks to our bodies not secreting as much mucus to naturally fend off allergens. 

Blooming flowers and comfortable temperatures make spring an entirely pleasant time to open the windows and enjoy the great outdoors before the oppressive heat of summer rolls in. Unfortunately, this also coincides with southern Nevada’s peak pollen season. Both native and non-native plant life release pollen that can wreak havoc on allergy sufferers. Warm, dry, and windy conditions are a spring allergy-sufferer’s enemy because that is when pollen really gets tossed around in the air. The trees that most affect the Las Vegas area include mulberry, European olive, ash, pine, oak, elm, and maple. Non-native fruitless mulberry trees prove especially problematic – so much so that they were banned in Clark County in 1991. They still exist in older neighborhoods but can no longer be planted because of their high pollen concentrations. The European olive tree was outlawed at the same time.

Thanks to triple-digit summer temperatures, seasonal allergies generally take a break until fall. As soon as the heat dies down a bit, weed pollens come out to play, putting a damper on outdoor activities in September and October. Ragweed is the worst offender. It can grow taller than a person and produces a ton of potent pollen. Sagebrush can also affect southern Nevada allergy sufferers in the fall due to the copious amount of lightweight pollen it releases into the air. In spite of our dry climate, mold thrives at this time as well and can cause seasonal allergy symptoms to flare up.

Living in the dynamic Las Vegas area does not doom you to suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis) forever! If you find yourself experiencing persistent allergy symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and congestion around the same time(s) each year for weeks or even months at a time, you may be one of the many Nevadans battling seasonal allergies. One of Southern Nevada Allergy’s highly trained physicians will guide you through the process of identifying your allergy triggers. Based on your allergens and symptoms, an individualized treatment plan will address your needs. Medication can work wonders in some patients. Others choose immunotherapy (allergy drops or allergy shots), which builds up your body’s immunity to allergens over time. Come in to see us before your symptoms start for the season so we can help you win the allergy battle!

How we can treat you:

Biologics – Allergy and immunology treatment options continue to expand, thanks in large part to a drug class called biologics. Derived from living organisms, these medications can target specific components of the immune system and prevent inflammation that causes a variety of conditions. Southern Nevada Allergy Associates’ specialists stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in the field. We offer several biologics that provide a beacon of hope for some patients whose conditions, including severe asthma and eczema, have not responded well to traditional treatments.

Allergy Shots – When allergy medicine and avoidance do not provide sufficient relief, allergy shots can make all the difference in a patient’s quality of life. They are not a quick fix, but many people find them to be well worth the time and effort. They can desensitize your immune system to pollen (trees, grass, weeds), insect stings, pet dander, dust, mold, and cockroaches. Removing these allergic reactions can result in relief from asthma, eczema, ear issues, and sinus troubles exacerbated by allergies.

Allergy Drops – Oral allergy drops have proven safe and effective for patients facing rhinitis, asthma, and eczema caused by airborne allergens including grass, pollen, ragweed, pet dander, mold, and dust mites.

Meet Our Providers

Dr. Victor Cohen is board certified in both adult and pediatric allergy, asthma and immunology and is fluent in English and Spanish. Dr. Cohen graduated from New York Medical College in 1976. He completed his residency in pediatrics at the University of Florida. He served as chief resident in pediatrics at New York Medical College in 1979-1980. He completed his fellowship in allergy, asthma and clinical immunology at the University of Kansas Medical Center and Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

In 1992 Dr. Cohen became a diplomate of the American Board of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and has been in private practice in Las Vegas, Nevada since 1990. He is an assistant professor with the University of Nevada School of Medicine. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the Western Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the Nevada State Medical Association, and the Clark County Medical Society.

Originally from New York, Dr. Sandy Yip is a board-certified allergist and asthma specialist. Utilizing evidence-based practices and education, she works with patients of every age and demographic to improve their overall health and quality of life. Dr. Yip served in the US Air Force before settling in Nevada. She is fluent in English, Chinese (Cantonese), with some knowledge of Spanish and Japanese. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.

We look forward to serving you in 2023.