Allergies Treatment in Manhattan, NYC

In fact, millions of Americans have them. Allergies can appear at any age, and can even disappear in childhood only to reappear in adulthood. Allergy is a condition, often inherited, in which the immune system of the affected person reacts to something in the environment that doesn’t affect most other people. The patient’s immune system reacts to this substance as if it were an “enemy invader” (like a virus). This reaction leads to symptoms that often adversely affect the patient’s work, play, rest, and overall quality of life.

People often think of allergy as only “hayfever,” with sneezing, runny nose, nasal stuffiness, and itchy, watery eyes. However, allergies can also cause symptoms such as chronic “sinus” problems, postnasal drip, head congestion, frequent “colds,” recurring ear infections, hearing loss, dizziness, chronic cough, and asthma. Even stomach and intestinal problems, many skin rashes, chronic headaches, and fatigue can be symptoms of allergy.

What Are Allergies?

An allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless substance pollen, dust, pet dander as a threat and mounts a defense against it. This immune response releases chemicals like histamine that produce the symptoms most people associate with allergies. Allergies can appear at any age, and can run in families. They can also disappear in childhood only to return in adulthood.

Most people think of allergy as “hayfever” sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes. But allergic reactions can manifest throughout the body and drive symptoms that many patients don’t initially connect to allergy at all.

What Are The Symptoms of Allergies:

Nasal and respiratory:

• Nasal congestion and stuffiness
• Runny nose and repeated sneezing
• Post-nasal drip and chronic throat clearing
• Chronic “sinus” congestion or recurrent sinus infections
• Frequent upper respiratory infections
• Chronic cough
• Asthma or wheezing (allergies are a major asthma trigger)

Eyes, ears, and skin:

• Itchy, watery, or red eyes
• Ear fullness, popping, or recurrent ear infections
• Itchy ears, nose, or throat
• Dark circles under the eyes (“allergic shiners”)
• Skin rashes, hives, or eczema

Whole-body:

• Fatigue and brain fog
• Chronic headaches
• Sleep disruption (nasal congestion disrupts breathing during sleep)
• Stomach and digestive problems (in some food allergy presentations)

What are the most common Allergens?

Pollen from trees, grass, and weeds

Allergies that occur in the spring (late April and May) are often due to tree pollen. Allergies that occur in the summer (late May to mid-July) are often due to grass and weed pollen. Allergies that occur in the fall (late August to the first frost) are often due to ragweed.

Mold

Mold is common where water tends to collect, such as shower curtains, window moldings, and damp basements. They can also be found in rotting logs, hay, mulches, commercial peat moss, compost piles, and leaf litter. This allergy is usually worse during humid and rainy weather.

Animal dander

Proteins found in the skin, saliva, and urine of furry pets such as cats and dogs are allergens. You can be exposed to dander when handling an animal or from house dust that contains dander.

Dust

Many allergens, including dust mites, are in the dust. Dust mites are tiny living creatures found in bedding, mattresses, carpeting, and upholstered furniture. They live on dead skin cells and other things found in house dust.

Allergy Treatment in New York City

Despite the advances in allergy care during the past several decades, there are still only three basic, accepted approaches to allergy care:

• Avoidance of the offending allergens
• Pharmacotherapy (medications)
• Immunotherapy (allergy shots/ desensitization)

Avoidance

The first most basic treatment step, once an allergen has been identified, is to eliminate or avoid contact with it, if possible. Unfortunately, avoiding some allergens (such as dust, molds, and animals) is often difficult and thus allergen avoidance alone may not be effective.

Pharmacotherapy

Medications can frequently control allergy symptoms. These may include antihistamines, decongestants, prescription nasal sprays, leukotriene inhibitors, and other types of products.

Immunotherapy

When allergen avoidance and medications do not successfully control allergy symptoms, the Otolaryngic Allergist can alter the body’s overactive response by carefully challenging the patient’s immune system through regular injections of the actual allergens to which a patient is sensitive. This treatment, very similar to the vaccination for infectious diseases such as the flu, can be given after allergy testing has revealed what it is that a patient is allergic to. Over time it may be possible to actually alter a person’s excessive response to these environmental allergens, and both improve symptoms, as well as decrease the need for medications and allergen avoidance for many years.

Reviewed by the board-certified ENT doctor at Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery

Still have questions? Ask our ENT doctor!