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More than 50 million people in the US struggle with some form of allergy, one of the leading causes of chronic illness and a source of frustration when eating, touching, or inhaling something our body rejects. When our immune system adversely reacts to a harmless substance (allergen), antibodies release histamines that create an allergic response and affect our nose, throat, ears, skin, lungs, and even our stomach lining.
Many environmental allergens lead to allergic reactions, and managing this problem involves identifying the source and taking the right approach to reduce its effects. Let’s explore what we can do to help you with your allergies by examining the common environmental factors that cause them, the types of allergic responses, and our methods for relieving you of these issues.
If you live in the West Midtown area of Atlanta, Georgia, and you’re trying to manage your allergies, Dr. Shivan Amin and his experienced medical staff at Midtown ENT can help.
There are a lot of substances that can create the antibodies that lead to allergy issues, including:
Damp areas with little to no airflow are the perfect environment for spore-producing mold to develop. Mold can live in the house or in the surrounding environment. It’s at its worst in hotter climates and seasons, so be on the lookout for it.
This is the term for the skin cells and saliva from your pet’s feathers, fur, or scales can cause an allergic reaction by way of specific proteins found in them.
These tiny arachnids are invisible to the naked eye but can be found in areas where dead skin thrives and feeds off of it (furniture, carpets, curtains, and bedding), and while they don’t bite, their waste can cause allergic responses.
Microspores from trees, grass, and weeds look like fine dust that can appear in many colors (yellow, red, white, or brown). They are vital to plant reproduction in warm weather and are also a common source of allergies for millions.
When dealing with allergies, your body can react in a variety of different ways:
Depending on the allergen and how frequently you’re exposed to it, the condition can be intermittent (occurring occasionally) or persistent (occurring chronically).
Allergies can be treated with several methods, such as medications, immunotherapy (allergy shots), and nasal sprays. Over-the-counter drugs like oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, fexofenadine, loratadine, and cetirizine can help with hay fever and nasal congestion symptoms. If these aren’t enough, allergy shots can help by exposing you to minuscule amounts of an allergen and help to build resistance over time, and inhaled or oral bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, and oral antileukotrienes can help with asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Environmental allergens can wreak havoc on your immune system, but there are ways to manage the problem, and we can help. If you’re ready for relief from allergy symptoms, make an appointment with Dr. Amin and his team at Midtown ENT today.