Allergy Overview
The commercials all over television and the radio like to tell you how many people across the country suffer from allergy symptoms, but at our clinic we only care about your specific allergic profile. The resources you'll find using our clinic's helpful tool will allow you to pinpoint your symptoms and learn about the wide-ranging conditions and treatment solutions. Whether it's pollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander or certain foods, we want to develop a plan to make sure you don't get bogged down by your allergies. Many people don't know that sometimes allergies can develop in previously nonallergic patients.Whatever your medical history or current condition, you'll find what you're looking for here and the solution to your allergies with our specialists once you come in to see us.
The research at the government-funded National Institutes of Health and other public-private and university programs is constantly yielding new insight into these age-old problems. New technology and tools are also always in development. Our commitment to you is to keep you in-the-know about the latest developments in the allergy field.
Once you feel you've learned what you can here, our specialists would love to meet with you and listen to your unique symptoms. We've made it as easy as clicking on one of the options to the right and you'll be starting on the road to better health and happiness.
Hay Fever
Few conditions are more common or more irritating than having allergies or hay fever. Medically referred to as allergic rhinitis, hay fever can strike quickly and inflict cold-like symptoms in a matter of minutes. If you suffer from hay fever frequently you are not alone: about everyone one in five Americans has some level of allergic reaction to common allergens.
Symptoms & Causes
Tress, grasses and weeds all put out tiny particles of pollen, which is spread around by the wind. When swallowed pollen can trigger an allergic response from the immune system that fights to keep it out. The body produces a chemical called histamine which can cause itching, sneezing, throat tightening and loss of voice. Other common allergens are mold and pet dander. Symptoms of hay fever may include rash, congestion, difficulty breathing, watery eyes and sinus pressure or facial pain. Get in touch with your doctor if symptoms persist or worsen, a fever doesn't subside, your ear begins to hurt or you have a bloody nose.
Diagnosis & Treatment
When you go to see your doctor for the first time regarding possible allergy concerns, she or he may ask questions about your symptoms and perform a skin prick test or allergy blood test. Both tests will serve to inform your doctor what specific allergens are most causing your immune system response. Depending upon the severity of your hay fever several options are available to consider. Nasal decongestants, nasal allergy sprays, antihistamines and allergy immunotherapy shots or drops are all possible solutions depending upon your circumstance.
Prevention
Avoiding allergens might be the best weapon in your fight against your symptoms or to prevent hay fever in the first place. While not proven, some experts suggest avoiding dust and other allergens as a child.
Further Reading
MedicineNet
Rhinitis
Many people who suffer from this condition often confuse allergic rhinitis (hay fever) with nonallergic rhinitis. This is because the symptoms are very similar but the cause is not. Unlike hay fever, nonallergic rhinitis involves blood vessels in the nose rather than an immune system response.
Symptoms & Causes
Unlike hay fever, an allergen-related illness, nonallergic rhinitis isn't triggered by pollen, mold or dander. It can be caused by infection, hormones and even food and drink. Some causes can also include: dust, smoke, chemicals, humidity changes, spicy foods, alcohol, stress and pregnancy. Symptoms associated with nonallergic rhinitis include runny nose, sneezing and stuffy nose.
Diagnosis & Treatment
These types of rhinitis are similar in presenting symptoms so oftentimes your doctor will want an allergy skin and blood test to diagnose the problem. There are no specific tests to conclude someone really has nonallergic rhinitis. Therefore your doctor will try to listen to your symptoms and rule out other causes before proceeding with a treatment plan for this diagnosis. Your doctor may recommend nasal sprays and oral decongestants. He or she might also recommend lifestyle changes such as avoiding rhinitis triggers like wood-burning stoves, household chemical sprays and scented perfumes. Performing nasal irrigation at home alongside the use of a humidifier might also be an option.
Prevention
The dilation of blood cells that inflame your nasal tissue is often an unchangeable genetic trait so prevention can be difficult. The best advice is to avoid known triggers, stay hydrated and don't use nasal decongestants too much because your symptoms and susceptibility might actually worsen.
Further Reading
Mayo Clinic
Chronic Sinusitis
If you suffer from allergy-related chronic sinusitis you know how much misery comes from invisible particles of pollen and dust. Also termed chronic rhinosinusitis, the condition is almost always accompanied by nasal airway inflammation.
Symptoms & Causes
Allergic sinusitis is a reaction to breathing in allergens such as dust, pollen, smoke and dander. If sinusitis doesn't go away after a couple weeks or reoccurs throughout the year allergic chronic sinusitis is the likely diagnosis. Symptoms can include nasal congestion for more than two weeks, itchy eyes and nose, headache, tenderness, sleep problems and a reduced sense of smell and taste.
Diagnosis & Treatment
When you see your doctor he or she may perform a physical exam, nasal endoscopy, CT or MRI scan. The doctor might also take a sinus culture or perform allergy skin tests. Once your doctor is confident your symptoms are caused by allergies, he or she may offer treatment options such as immunotherapy allergy shots or drops, antibiotics, balloon sinuplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery. Other treatment options for symptom relief include home remedies such as nasal sprays, inhaling steam and over-the-counter pain relievers.
Prevention
Preventing sinusitis can be tricky if the root cause is allergens. The best advice is to avoid your known triggers, stay healthy and work with your doctor to manage your symptoms.
Further Reading
Medscape
Laryngitis
If you are suffering from allergic laryngitis your body is trying to respond to inflammation and swelling of your voice box, or larynx. Unlike hoarseness, allergic laryngitis should be treated and evaluated differently.
Symptoms & Causes
Like other conditions arising from allergies, laryngitis is caused by pollen, dust, dander, mold and other allergens entering the nose or mouth when you breathe in. Sometimes this triggers an immune response from the body which puts out histamines. This can cause irritation that produces symptoms ranging from dry throat to coughing and a loss of voice.
Diagnosis & Treatment
You doctor will try to pinpoint the source of your laryngitis. To do this he or she may ask you a few questions and perform an allergy skin test or blood test and a throat culture. If the cause of your laryngitis is allergies your doctor might recommend antihistamines or inhaled steroids. You doctor might also simply suggest pain relief tips like pain killers, using a humidifier and avoidance of further irritating factors such as allergens, pollution and secondhand smoke.
Prevention
It can be very hard to prevent allergic laryngitis because allergies are not easily controlled. The best advice is to avoid your trigger allergens and be sure to avoid stressing your voice box, or larynx through overuse or abuse. Don't yell or whisper too much, avoid external injury and stay healthy.
Further Reading
University of Maryland Medical Center
Sore Throat
Allergen-caused sore throats can put you through misery. Medically called pharyngitis, sore throats stem from allergens irritating and inflaming your pharynx, otherwise known as your throat. Usually the symptoms associated with sore throat fade without medical intervention, however consulting a medical professional is a good idea if your symptoms worsen or don't resolve within a week.
Symptoms & Causes
Sore throats not caused by virus or bacteria are caused by pollens, dust, dander or mold entering your airway and causing an immune system response. Sometimes strep throat, dryness or stomach reflux cause worsen allergy-related sore throats. The condition can cause swallowing to hurt, more sneezing or coughing than usual, runny nose, mild fever and bad breath. Other symptoms include dry throat, swollen tonsils and muffled voice. See your doctor if your symptoms become too painful or last more than a week.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Your doctor will perform a physical evaluation and likely ask a few questions. You might also undergo a throat swab saliva sample to be tested for bacteria. Allergy skin tests or a blood test can conclude if your symptoms are caused by an allergic response. Based on your physician's medical opinion you may receive advice for home remedies. Getting plenty of sleep and water is crucial to a speedy recovery. To ease the pain of a sore throat trying eating warm and thick foods like honey or soup. Also try gargling with saltwater to reduce some pain. Using an air humidifier is also a good idea to make sure the air you’re breathing isn't dry and damaging. If your allergies persist or cause great pain your doctor might suggest allergy immunotherapy shots or drops to build up your resistance.
Prevention
By avoiding your allergen triggers you can avoid many of the problems that may arise from your immune system's inflammatory response. Avoid secondhand smoke and stay healthy by washing your hands, limiting alcohol, and drinking fluids and warm broths instead of soda pop or sugary drinks.
Further Reading
MedlinePlus
Otitis Media
Ear infection caused by allergens can be one explanation for chronic otitis media. The tube that drains fluid from the middle ear to the nose and throat can become blocked due to inflamed tissue. This builds up fluid in the ear and can cause infection.
Symptoms & Causes
All the symptoms of ear infection are the same with otitis media caused by allergies. Symptoms like earache, difficulty or muffled hearing, high temperature or a liquid/puss draining from the ear. However with allergies ear infections can occur much more frequently when you are around allergens that trigger your body’s immune response. If you are suffering from otitis media frequently and suspect it's because of allergies see your Ears, Nose & Throat doctor or an allergist who can help trace the root cause of your symptoms.
Diagnosis & Treatment
The first step will be an interview with your doctor where he or she will ask about family allergy history and your personal allergy experiences. Your doctor may then perform an allergy skin test or blood test to ensure allergies are the cause of the otitis media. Before treating the underlying allergies, your doctor may focus on the current ear infection symptom relief like the use of a warm compress, gargling with salt water or an over-the-counter ear-drop pain reliever. Once a solution for your current symptoms is in place your doctor may consult an allergist to help you learn about avoiding allergens, talk about possible allergy medication or discuss allergy immunotherapy shots or drops.
Prevention
Allergies are inherently not preventable however they are avoidable. Using a filter in your home and a pollen mask are two tips. Other prevention suggestions are: stay healthy, avoid secondhand smoke and wash your hands frequently.
Further Reading
Penn Medicine
Dizziness
When the feeling of dizziness overtakes you due to your allergies the experience can be unsettling. While you might not think your allergies could cause the disorientation, allergens cause your body to respond and this usually inflames the blood vessels in tissues from the throat to the nose and even the tube of your ear which helps the body maintain balance.
Symptoms & Causes
Dizziness can present associated symptoms such as weakness, confusion, dry mouth, pain in your chest, eyes, or head, tiredness, and lack of balance. The symptoms of vertigo are similar but the sensation is more akin to stepping off a merry-go-round after spinning for a while. This is caused by the Eustachian tube swelling anytime you come into contact with a particular allergen or trigger. It's a good idea to see a doctor as soon as possible at the first signs of dizziness or vertigo as they might be a sign of a serious heart condition of other health problem.
Diagnosis & Treatment
When you see your physician she or he may ask you a few questions, give you a physical exam and take your vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. In some cases the doctor may want to look at the make-up of your blood to see if your dizziness is a sign of a larger condition. If your condition is severe due to dehydration or shortness of breath you may be given oxygen or IV fluids. However if an allergy skin test or blood test shows your allergies likely caused the dizziness then your doctor may refer to an allergist or provide information about how to treat the symptoms. Many of the tips are similar to other allergy-related ENT problems: nasal sprays, antihistamines and other-the-counter medicine like Benadryl.
Prevention
If you feel dizzy sit down right away. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine and tobacco are good prevention tips. Make sure to stand up slowly after lying down for a while. Most important is to avoid the allergens you are vulnerable to. Consider installing an air filter in your home or using an air purifier to filter pollen, dust and dander.
Further Reading
WebMD
