Allergies make people feel miserable. It is important to pinpoint what triggers an allergy, and pursue proper treatment. If you have allergies, your immune system identifies a harmless substance as an intruder. The harmless substance is known as an allergen. Allergens cause many different problems, including allergic rhinitis.
Allergic rhinitis, or hay-fever, is a common problem, especially in the fall and spring. Symptoms include: runny nose, stuffy nose, tearing eyes, sneezing and itching in the throat or eyes. Patients should avoid outdoor allergens like pollen, especially when the count is high. If a patient is allergic to mold, they should try and eradicate the mold from the home. The allergist may prescribe nasal spray, antihistamine pills or spray, decongestants or immunotherapy, or allergy shots.
The Allergist in Elizabethtown, KY, uses shots as a long-term treatment that reduces many hay-fever symptoms. The decision on whether or not to take shots is based on:
1. length of allergy season and severity of symptoms
2. how well medications control symptoms
3. desire to avoid long-term medication use
4. costs (depends on insurance coverage)
Patients take allergy shots in two phases-build up and maintenance. Patients receive shots with increasing amounts of allergens once or twice a week. During the maintenance phase, patients receive shots every two to four weeks. Another problem that plagues people is acute sinusitis. Symptoms include:
1. thick yellow-green nasal discharge
2. post-nasal drip, often with a bad taste
3. cough
4. congestion
5. toothache
Make an appointment with Allergy Doctor C. Steven Smith if you have recurring sinus problems. Testing determines what triggers chronic sinus infections. Sometimes, a deviated septum or nasal polyps may be the source of the pain. The allergist uses a technique called rhinoscopy or nasal endoscopy to view the insides of the sinus passages.
The food allergist in Elizabethtown KY may diagnose a patient with a food allergy. If there’s a food allergy, the immune system overreacts to a particular protein found in a certain food. Eight foods are responsible for the majority of allergic reactions: cow’s milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat. Food allergies are serious, and people get very sick from a reaction. Anyone who has a bad reaction after eating one of the foods on the list should check with their doctor.
