Hay Fever Doesn’t Have to Be a Fact of Life: Learn How It Can Be Treated

No one wants to deal with any type of allergy yet millions of people do. In fact, so many people in the United States have allergies that they often assume that it’s just a part of life. They assume that if they sneeze, get watery eyes, and suffer from other allergy symptoms, that the best they can hope for is that they will pass quickly. The truth is that Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group can help.

Turn to the experts to get help with hay fever

Do you have cold symptoms that don’t seem to go away? Do you notice that it’s caused by allergens like pollen, pet dander, or dust mites? If so, then you may have hay fever. Technically called allergic rhinitis, hay fever affects about eight percent of adults and around ten percent of children. For some people, it’s seasonal while others have symptoms all year round. For everyone, it’s an inconvenience that can feel overwhelming at times. This is why we recommend that you turn to the experts.

We’ll start by diagnosing your hay fever

When you work with Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group, the first thing we’ll do is diagnose your condition. This is especially important because many of the symptoms of hay fever, such as itchy eyes, watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, ear popping, headaches, and sneezing, can be caused by other, more serious conditions.

The first step in the diagnostic process is to figure out what your allergic profile is. This is generally done using two tests. The first is a skin prick test that we do on your back. The second is a skin test that we’ll do on your upper arm. This is designed to catch a few allergies that may not be caught by the skin prick test itself. Both tests can give us results in around 15 minutes, which means we can diagnose you during your appointment. We may also look to see if you have underlying conditions that are making your symptoms of hay fever more serious, like sinusitis, nasal polyps, or asthma.

Treatment options for hay fever

There are many potential treatment options for hay fever. One of the biggest deciding factors in the treatment plan we create for you will be whether you have underlying conditions or not. Whatever your situation is, you can count on us to come with a treatment plan that’s unique to you and your needs. Some of the most common methods we use to treat hay fever include allergy shots, oral medications, or medicated nasal sprays. In some cases, we’ll use several treatments.

For those who have severe hay fever who haven’t found relief by using medications, or who have had serious or significant side effects when taking medication, allergy shots – otherwise known as immunotherapy – is a top choice. This can do more than address the symptoms – it can cure hay fever. To learn more about this and other allergy options, contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 today.