Pass the Tissue
5/15/2023
Allergens are in the air
By: E. Bickford, M.D.
Spring is in the air – and so are a lot of other substances! Certain allergens may be causing itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose and sneezing. If you have allergies, your body’s delicate balance can be knocked out of kilter by hundreds of environmental triggers: animals, plants, foods and medicines, just to name a few.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 100 million individuals in the United States experience various forms of allergies each year. The cause of an allergy is not always known, but a family history of allergies is also considered to be a primary risk factor.
Essentially, an allergy is an abnormal reaction by your body’s immune system to a foreign substance, according to Mayo Clinic. Simply put, your body’s defense system sees a certain substance – called an allergen – as a threat, and releases antibodies to fight it. Usually, people who have allergies have increased sensitivity to more than one allergen or group of allergens, such as certain types of grass and trees, dust and lint, pollen and mold, and animal fur. The most common food allergies are the proteins in cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish and tree nuts.
Allergic symptoms vary from person to person, can be seasonal or year-round, and reactions can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening (particularly in the case of severe food allergies). Some people are born with allergies, while others develop them later in life.
Specific types of allergic diseases include allergic rhinitis (hay fever), sinusitis (swelling of the sinuses), serous otitis media (an allergic ear problem), conjunctivitis (red, itchy eyes), hives (itchy, red bumps), asthma (coughing or difficulty breathing), or anaphylaxis – a serious allergic reaction usually caused by a food, insect sting or exposure to certain chemicals, such as latex. Anaphylaxis arises quickly and causes mild to severe symptoms: warmth, tingling in the mouth, a rash, faintness, shortness of breath, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, even a drop in blood pressure resulting in loss of consciousness or shock. If not immediately treated with an injection of epinephrine, this type of allergic reaction can be fatal.
If you think you have an allergy, your family physician can refer you to a specialist such as an ear/nose/throat doctor (ENT) or an allergist/immunologist. An allergist/immunologist is a internal medicine physician, or a specialist in ear, nose and throat problems, with additional, specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, asthma and autoimmune diseases. He or she will review your medical history, perform testing to determine the nature and severity of an allergy, and develop a treatment plan.
A variety of options are available for treating allergies: over-the-counter remedies (oral medication, topical creams or nasal sprays) prescription medication, or allergy shots. The right course of treatment will depend on the severity and frequency of your symptoms. Allergy shots work like a vaccine, by exposing you to a small dose of the allergen, to build your resistance. Allergy shots are usually reserved for more severe, recurrent symptoms that do not respond to other treatments.
If you’re suffering from severe allergies, schedule an in-person or telehealth visit with a provider at DeTar Family Medicine Center by calling (361) 579-8300 or online at mydetardoctor.com.
About the Author:
E. Daryl Bickford, M.D., is a board-certified otolaryngologist – an ear, nose and throat specialist who also performs head and neck surgery. With more than 40 years of experience, he treats a wide spectrum of ear, nose and throat conditions with a patient-focused, evidence-based approach. Dr. Bickford provides care for both pediatric and adult patients, with a special emphasis on diseases of the ear and hearing disorders.
Dr. Bickford offers treatment for the following conditions:
- Allergic rhinitis
- Ear, nose and throat diseases and infections
- Eardrum perforations and ear tube placement
- Head and neck surgery
- Hearing loss and other ear conditions
- Hoarseness of voice
- Loss of sense of smell
- Nasal congestion, discharge or obstruction
- Otitis media
- Sinusitis
- Swallowing disorders
- Tinnitus
- Vocal nodules
Dr. Bickford is currently accepting new and previously established patients with a physician referral.
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