Four Allergy Facts To Know Before You Visit the ENT in Palm Beach

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Allergy Facts for ENT Patients

Over 50 million people in the US have seasonal allergies. This makes them the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in America at a whopping cost of over 18 billion dollars. This definitely puts a new face on the problem that many in the Palm Beach area deal with every day. Knowing some allergy facts can help arm you with the right information to move forward. 

Did you know that allergies can increase your risk for other health issues? Or did you know that the cause of your allergies could be something right in your home? If you have seasonal allergies or chronic problems, there are critical bits of information you need to understand. Knowing these facts can help you when you visit your Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor.

What are the causes of allergies?

Whenever your body encounter something that it thinks shouldn’t be there (pollen, dander, etc.) it sees it as an invader. This triggers your immune system to release histamine. Histamine is what causes many of the allergy symptoms you may have. Things like eyes that water, a stuffed up or runny nose, sore and scratchy throat, sneezing, and an outbreak of hives. Some people get allergy symptoms and can keep going on about their day. But others have debilitating issues with functioning through life. To help prevent your allergies from affecting your quality of life, here are some important facts to know.

Four Tidbits to Know About Allergies That Can Keep You Healthy

Pets

  1. The culprit could be in your house. If you have pets, it is very possible that they bring allergens from your yard into your home. Pollen sticks to their fur and then you are exposed when you pet them, which we all do. This is one very easy way that allergens make their way into your house. Other house culprits are:
  • Leaving your windows open
  • Not dusting frequently enough
  • Carpet dander
  • Dust mites in linens and bedding

 

Our ENT doctors have a full regime of tips to help you keep your home allergen-free and lessen your symptoms.

Health Risks

  1. Once you have allergies, your risk for other health problems goes up. Two of the most common illnesses that develop from allergies is allergy-induced asthmas and fungal sinusitis.

SLIT

  1. A fear of needles shouldn’t keep you away from immunotherapy. Allergy shots are a common treatment method for allergies, but you can receive immunotherapy in another way. SLIT, or sublingual immunotherapy. With this sublingual method, you get drops of the allergen under your tongue every day. Some of the advantages of SLIT are you may be able to do the treatment at home, it’s good for kids who are afraid of needles, and there is no pain.

Balloon Sinusplasty

  1. There are new effective procedures available. If you get sinus infections over and over, you might be a good candidate for a revolutionary procedure called balloon sinuplasty. The way it works is the doctor places a small balloon in your sinuses and inflates it to open the cavity. Once the cavity expands, your doctor deflates the balloon and removes it. With opened sinuses, drainage flows better and you aren’t stuffed up. This means the environment is better for preventing infections. Some of the advantages to this procedure are the ability to get back to work sooner, minimal bleeding, reduced pain, can be performed in the office, and 95% of those who have had it show significant improvement in symptoms within 9 months.

Our licensed ENTs are fully experienced to help you find your best treatment options. Reach out to us today to schedule your next appointment and get results.