All About Nasal Allergies
Facial pressure, drainage, obstructed nasal breathing, and sneezing are all common with sinus infections however the majority of the time there may be no infection present. We call any more form of nasal inflammation “rhinitis”, and it may be due to a number of causes, but ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGIES are the most common cause. Structural problems, such as a deviated septum also usually cause some symptoms as well.
Allergic reactions are a type of distorted and exaggerated immune system response of the body. Our own immune system can get accidentally sensitized to normal and otherwise harmless environment triggers. Many of these triggers are proteins or molecules found in pollens, insect, mold, or even medications.
Patients with nasal allergies will feel increased nasal congestion, blockage in breathing, runny nose, postnasal drip, throat clearing, or sneezing. Many patients will feel like their throat or ears are itching. And some patients will develop asthma, chronic cough or skin conditions related to allergies.
Allergic Rhinitis
Nasal allergies are one of the most common disease states in this country. High pollen counts, high humidity and even city smog levels of areas like the Atlanta metro make rhinitis experienced by about half our population at least sometimes. Patients with allergic rhinitis will most commonly have the seasonal variant (Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis or ‘SAR’) due to allergic sensitivities of seasonal blooms of tree, grass or weed pollens. Perennial Allergic Rhinitis (‘PAR’) describes a more year-round condition due to sensitivities to mold, pet dander, cockroaches and dust mites.
Together with your examination and a history of your worst symptoms, we use cutaneous allergy testing to help sort out which environmental triggers may be the culprit at exacerbating your inflammation.Allergy Treatment
Based on your allergy test results we will make recommendations about treatment following the Otolaryngic Allergy treatment model. Patients with mild allergies, or weak results may be recommended to continue non-specific therapy like allergy pills and nasal sprays; HEPA air purification at the office and bedroom is also very helpful. But if we are getting moderate or strong results, your doctor may talk to you about Specific Allergy Therapy.
Allergy Therapy means taking a specific recipe of what you are allergic to, at a low but continuous and increasing dosage, over a long period of time. Through a variety of mechanisms we see that the body’s abnormal immune response to the triggering allergies can be reduced. Resulting in better breathing, less sniffles and improvement in sinus infections.