If you have allergies, you’re far from alone. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million people in the United States experience various types of allergies each year.
If you’re sick of dealing with the constant nasal congestion and sneezing fits every time you take a walk through Twin Creeks Historic Park, make a plan to seek treatment for your allergies this year!
Common Allergy Symptoms
Allergy symptoms can range from an inconvenience to a life-threatening emergency and depend on the type of allergy you have. Some of the more common symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Congestion
- Itching of the eyes, nose, or roof of the mouth
- Watery eyes
- Hives or rash
More serious symptoms include swelling of the lips, tongue, face and throat, chest tightness, wheezing and, in the most severe cases, anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis causes your airways to narrow and can often send you into shock. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
Allergy Treatment Options
Much like your symptoms, your allergy treatment options will also depend on the type of allergy or allergies you have as well as other individual needs. Options include:
- Avoiding your triggers. The best way to prevent allergy symptoms is to avoid your triggers. You can take steps to minimize your exposure by doing things like keeping the windows to your house and car closed, investing in a quality air purifier for your home, and dusting and vacuuming regularly.
- Medications. Multiple OTC and prescription-strength medications exist to help reduce your allergy symptoms. These include antihistamines, nasal, oral and/or topical corticosteroids, decongestants and mast cell stabilizers.
- Epinephrine injector. Your allergist will give one of these to you if you have severe allergies and/or are at risk for anaphylaxis. It needs to be taken at the first sign of a serious allergic reaction. Your allergist will walk you through how to properly use it as well as your next steps to take after injection.
- Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a method of building tolerance to an allergen by introducing it to the body slowly in small doses, usually over a period of several years. It can be administered via allergy shots or sublingually in allergy drops or tablets.
If you would like to learn more about allergy treatment options or need allergy testing to help identify your triggers, call the experts at Breathe ENT: Kevin Taheri, MD and schedule an appointment today.