Allergies and Sinus & Nasal Conditions
Your immune system is designed to protect you from substances that can cause you harm. It jumps into action when viruses, bacteria, fungi and other detrimental substances enter the body, working to stop these invaders from causing illness. In some cases, the body identifies a non-harmful substance as a threat and causes a reaction, also known as an allergy. For many people with allergies, the symptoms impact the nasal and sinus function. Julie Zweig, MD Integrative Sleep & ENT offers expert diagnosis and treatment for allergies and sinus and nasal conditions at our clinic in Alpharetta, GA.
How do you test for allergies?
Allergy testing can give you exact information, not only on what you are allergic to But how allergic you actually are to each allergen. It is important to go over this testing with the physician, so they can help interpret these tests most accurately.
There are two types of tests.
ALLERGY SKIN TEST
The most common is skin testing or some may call it skin prick testing. In this test, tiny amounts of the allergens most commonly found in our region of the country or other allergens based on your medical history, are introduced with a tiny “prick” along your arms or back. By seeing how your body reacts, we can accurately measure how sensitive or allergic you are to each of these allergens. We then take this information and create a customized plan unique to your situation. Skin testing is the most reliable form of testing. However, sometimes your doctor may want to order a blood test.
ALLERGY BLOOD TEST
Although skin tests are more reliable, your doctor may need to order a blood test for a number of reasons:
- If you are taking a medication that may interfere with the testing, such as a beta-blocker.
- If you have had a significant reaction to an allergen in the past and the decision is made to avoid the exposure.
- If you have extremely sensitive skin or a serious skin condition.
There are many different forms of allergens that can cause nasal and sinus allergy symptoms. The environmental allergens most people react to are pollen, ragweed, mold, dust and pet dander. These substances in the environment should not cause any reaction, but for some reason, some people’s immune system sees these allergens as foreign and mistakenly tries to attack them. When your body comes in contact with these allergens, you may experience a variety of symptoms, including:
- Runny nose
- Nasal drainage
- Post-nasal drip
- Nasal congestion
- Sneezing
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Snoring
- Rashes
- Swelling
- Bronchitis from allergies
There are also occupational, seasonal, chemical and food allergens that can cause reactions. At Julie Zweig, MD Integrative Sleep & ENT, we help our patients identify allergens through allergy testing and provide treatment for allergy symptom relief.
Nasal and Sinus Symptom Relief
If you have sinus or nasal problems, it may be due to allergies, injuries, disease, infection or other causes. Our ENT specialists at Julie Zweig, MD Integrative Sleep & ENT can provide comprehensive diagnostic testing and treatment for a wide variety of nasal and sinus conditions, including:
If you have annoying allergy symptoms or other nasal/sinus conditions, get relief by visiting our team at Julie Zweig, MD Integrative Sleep & ENT. We provide holistic health care for our patients, focusing on overall wellness and treatment for the cause of your symptoms. Contact our office in the Roswell, Dunwoody, Alpharetta and northern Atlanta, GA, area to schedule an appointment with one of our ENT specialists.
