5 Common Allergy Questions Answered!

Many people suffer from symptoms like a runny nose or nasal congestion causing breathing issues. The discomfort caused by these symptoms can wreak havoc on quality of life. We’ve got answers to the 5 most common allergy questions for you:

1. Why am I allergic to something?

Some people’s immune systems mistakenly identify a harmless substance with an invading organism and attack it. When our immune system fights off certain substances, the reaction is a cascade of events. These events include itchy or watery eyes, congestion, sneezing or rash. Allergic reactions may also change how a person is able to breathe and could become life-threatening. Relief can be achievable, you just have to know the steps to finding out a path for treatment.

2. How can we find out what I’m allergic to?

Multiple types of allergy tests are available, and can easily be completed in one appointment at the ENT office. ENT stands for Ear, Nose and Throat physician. The most common are allergy skin testing and blood testing.

Skin testing exposes the skin to small amounts of selected allergens and measures the response. The choice of tests follows the symptom history. A positive result indicates sensitization and must be interpreted in that context.

Blood tests for allergen-specific IgE can be useful when skin testing is unsuitable or when they help answer a specific clinical question. Neither a positive skin test nor a blood result alone establishes reaction severity. Suspected food allergy requires interpretation alongside the history, sometimes with specialist-supervised testing.

3. What types of treatments are available to me?

There are many options to treat allergy issues. Here are the most common:

• Antihistamines – medications that control chemicals that your body releases creating allergy symptoms
• Nasal steroid sprays – can reduce swelling and inflammation inside your nasal passages
• Allergy shots — injections of selected allergens used in an immunotherapy program. Sublingual treatment is a different approach placed under the tongue; suitability depends on the allergen and treatment product.

4. What is the success rate of these treatments?

Success rate of a treatment will depend on multiple factors, including how often you are providing a treatment for a certain symptom, as well as how your body reacts to certain substances. For example, allergy shots are successful when a person stays consistent with administration.

5. How long will my results last?

Length of treatment results will vary depending on the allergen and on the person. For treatments like antihistamines or sprays, the relief may last as long as you’re taking the medication. For treatments like allergy shots, there are multiple phases and the length of symptom relief will last longer between shots once a certain amount of shots has been given.

For our current approach, explore allergy evaluation and treatment or read common questions about allergy care.

How Soon Can I Make My Appointment?

If you’re experiencing a chronic post-nasal drip, nasal congestion or allergy symptoms, seek evaluation and treatment from an otolaryngologist, like Dr. John Fewins, today!