People who have seasonal allergies may start experiencing symptoms in late August, which often last through October. | Adobe Stock
People who have seasonal allergies may start experiencing symptoms in late August, which often last through October. | Adobe Stock
• More than 23 million people in the U.S. suffer from allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever.
• Ragweed allergy is a common cause of hay fever.
• Fortunately, there are several treatment options available for allergy sufferers.
Dr. Anthony Sanders of Indianapolis Sinus Center is warning people about how untreated allergies can lead to other sinus problems.
More than 23 million people in the U.S. suffer from allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, which is most commonly caused by an allergy to ragweed, according to the Allergy & Asthma Network.
“Allergies are a form of nasal inflammation caused by environmental things that you inhale that trigger the allergic response, so it can cause problems with nasal inflammation, swelling, drainage and symptoms that are somewhat similar to chronic sinusitis,” Sanders told East Indy News. “In addition, people who have poorly controlled allergies tend to get nasal swelling. And oftentimes, if your sinus openings are too small to allow infection to drain out, then that's when you have problems with chronic sinus infections. So they can play into sinus infection that way by making the openings even smaller still.”
The Allergy & Asthma Network reports that ragweed allergy sufferers feel the peak effects of their symptoms in mid-September, and those symptoms can last until November. Ragweed plants grow in abundance across the country, and their pollen can be found in every state. People who are allergic to ragweed and also have asthma could experience a flareup in asthma symptoms and need to be hospitalized if they inhale the plant's pollen.
To minimize allergy symptoms, allergy sufferers can take the following steps: Premedicate with a nasal spray or antihistamine, change clothing and take a shower after coming inside, wear a mask outdoors, keep windows and doors closed, and monitor ragweed pollen counts. People who are allergic to ragweed should also avoid certain foods that are botanically related to ragweed, including bananas, mangoes, cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons and zucchini.
Doctors often review the patient's symptoms and medical history to diagnose allergies, and then they may recommend either a blood test or a skin test, according to WebMD. For a skin test, the doctor places a small amount of the allergen on the patient's skin, typically on the forearm or back. If the patient is allergic to that particular allergen, a small, itchy bump will appear.
Depending on the type and severity of a patient’s allergies, Mayo Clinic says that various treatment options could be recommended, including over-the-counter medications, nasal sprays, allergy shots, immunotherapy or carrying an emergency epinephrine shot, such as an EpiPen, for severe allergies.
If you’re interested in learning more about diagnosing and treating allergies, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
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