If you are an allergy sufferer, you know all too well that the transition to fall comes with a host of sinus issues. If the return to cooler weather has left you unable to stop sniffling or sneezing, it may be due to a sinus infection caused by common allergy symptoms. Nearly thirty million Americans suffer from hay fever or allergic rhinitis, and symptoms typically flare up during the fall months when large amounts of pollen are released into the air.
As with all allergies, the body’s immunological response to ordinarily harmless particles is to attempt to neutralize them. In people with pollen allergies, inhaling pollen particles can cause a host of biochemical reactions including the release of histamine. Histamine is the chemical that produces familiar allergy responses like a stuffy nose or sneezing.
Symptoms like these are very common in the fall months, but they should not be ignored. If allergies or sinus infections are not properly treated, they could result in further complications in the lungs, nose, ears, or jaw, leading to more serious conditions like asthma, chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, ear infections, and even arthritis.
You might have a sinus infection (sinusitis) if you have the following symptoms:
- Pain in the sinus regions, including the nose, cheeks, and forehead
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Ear pressure or pain
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Bad breath
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Post nasal drip
- Itchy eyes, throat, and nose
- Asthma attacks
- Swollen eyelids or watery eyes
- Low grade fever
Thankfully, there are ways to combat seasonal sinus infections. If you are struggling with allergies, now is the time to visit the Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia. Our doctors can prescribe antihistamines or nasal sprays to help combat your symptoms and reduce your chances of developing a sinus infection.
If you do have an infection, a course of antibiotics, as well as other treatments like saline rinses and anti-inflammatory pain relievers, can be used to put you in the road to recovery. For those who suffer from acute infections 3 to 4 times per year, our allergy specialists can administer allergy immunotherapy to reduce their number of infections by 80 to 90 percent.
Don’t let your fall allergies get the best of you. Ready to make an appointment? Contact the Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia today. For your convenience, we offer same day appointments to both new and established patients.