Nasal and Eye Allergies
Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies or "hay fever" is a medical condition that presents as sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy eyes or throat, ear itching or popping, or cough in response to seasonal exposure (trees, grasses, weeds or molds). Allergies are the result of a misdirected immune system. Seasonal allergies can occur at any time in life and can improve or get worse over time. Approximately 20%-30% of the population has allergies. Allergies can potentially lead to other medical conditions including chronic ear or sinus infections, cough and asthma. Our providers are experienced with seasonal allergies and develop a care plan that will help you feel better.
Year-round Allergies
Some people have year-round allergies called "perennial allergies." These result from chronic exposure to year-round allergens including dust mite, animals, cockroaches, and some molds. The symptoms are similar to seasonal allergies and include runny and stuffy nose, postnasal drip, eye itching and irritation, throat clearing and cough. All allergies can interfere with sleep quality and make it difficult for adults and children to function during the day. Allergies can lead to some other medical conditions including chronic ear or sinus infections, cough, and asthma. Like seasonal allergies, perennial allergies can occur at any time during one’s life. Our providers will develop a treatment plan for your perennial allergies (so you can have 7 cats).
Eye Allergies
Up to 20% of the population may develop eye symptoms in association with their allergies. The symptoms include eye itching and redness, eye tearing and occasionally some crusting. People can also develop swelling around the eyes and darkening under the eyes (called allergic shiners). There are other medical conditions that can present with eye discomfort including infection triggered conjunctivitis (pink eye), dry eyes, blepharitis (dandruff of the eyelids). Your provider can treat all these conditions.
Other Causes of Nasal Congestion
Rhinitis is a condition that can have the following symptoms: runny nose, sneezing, nasal stuffiness and itching. Rhinitis can result from a variety of causes. These causes include non-allergic or vasomotor rhinitis, rhinitis due to colds or sinus infections, rhinitis due to pregnancy or certain medications, and rhinitis due to alterations in the sinus and nasal anatomy.
Vasomotor rhinitis has symptoms that are very similar to nasal allergies (runny nose, nasal congestion, post nasal drip and sinus pressure) but the cause of the symptoms is different. People with vasomotor rhinitis can have their symptoms triggered by physical factors such as temperature changes, humidity changes, strong odors, air pollution and smoke. Sometimes there is no clear trigger. Vasomotor rhinitis is often referred to as a “migraine of the nose” and in fact there are some people that have associated migraine headaches. While there is no cure for vasomotor rhinitis, there are many medications to help with symptoms include nasal steroid and nasal antihistamine sprays, sinus saline irrigation, and in some cases ipatroprium bromide nasal spray.
Sometimes pregnancy and even medications can cause rhinitis. The most common culprits are over the counter nasal and sometimes oral decongestant therapies. People will often times have overuse of nasal decongestant sprays (a common ingredient in these sprays is called oxymetazoline). Many days of regular use leads to rebound nasal blockage as the medication wears off which then triggers people to use more spray. When people get to this point, they are referred to as being “addicted to their nasal spray.” The following medications have also been associated with rhinitis symptoms: high blood pressure medications (typically in a class called alpha blockers, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers), some antidepressants, erectile dysfunction drugs, and hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
The common cold and acute or chronic sinus infections can cause rhinitis symptoms. Sinus infections are discussed separately. Finally, alterations in nasal and sinus anatomy can be associated with rhinitis. In children, enlarged adenoids/tonsils are a common cause of nasal congestion and snoring. Adults can have nasal polyps which are benign growths of inflammatory tissue originating in the sinuses, septal deviations, or more rarely nasal tumors that cause nasal symptoms. Your provider can treat all these conditions.