ALLERGY TESTING & TREATMENTS
Allergy Testing
Nearly 50 million Americans suffer from Allergic rhinitis or hay fever, seasonal or year-round allergies. At Central Texas Sinus & Allergy, we want to get to the root of your problems and help you to eliminate allergy symptoms.
Common Allergies
Allergies occur when your immune system reacts to substances or allergens in the environment that are typically harmless.
Allergies can occur both outdoors and indoors and may cause:
- Sneezing
- Itchiness
- Watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Post nasal drip
- Scratchy throat
- Nasal congestion
Common indoor allergens include:
- Dust mites
- Pet dander
- Mold
- Cockroaches
- Food
Common outdoor/seasonal allergens include:
- Trees
- Grass
- Weeds
- Insects
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Allergy testing & treatments
nose & sinus
ears & hearing
immunotherapy
balloon sinuplasty
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Allergy Treatments
While there is no real cure for allergies, Central Texas Sinus & Allergy offers a number of effective treatment options including allergy avoidance counseling, over-the-counter and prescription medication therapy, allergy injections, and sublingual immunotherapy.
Allergy Testing
Central Texas Sinus & Allergy undergoes a thorough allergy testing to get to the root of your problems and find the proper diagnosis for your symptoms. We gather your relevant medical history and perform an examination of your ear, nose, throat, and head to make a proper assessment.
Immunotherapy
During immunotherapy you are given small doses of the allergen via shots or drops in order to stimulate your immune system while avoiding a full-blown allergic reaction. Over time, your immune system builds up a tolerance to the allergen and your symptoms will decrease.
Over The Counter Relief
Certain over-the-counter medications may reduce or alleviate your allergy symptoms. When using over-the-counter treatment, it is important to know which drugs affect which symptoms.
Over the counter treatments include:
- Antihistamines Available as an over-the-counter pill or prescription nasal spray, antihistamines block the release of histamine, which is a chemical produced by the body that triggers inflammatory reactions that result in swelling of the nose, congestion, itching, sneezing, and a runny nose.
- Nasal Steroid Sprays Nasal steroid sprays are highly effective at reducing nasal congestion and allergic inflammation. They reduce your body’s inflammatory response and are the preferred treatment for mild allergies.
- Leukotriene Blockers Generally combines with other allergy treatments, leukotriene blockers reduce mucosal inflammation.
- Decongestants While decongestants are available as a nasal spray or pill, Central Texas Sinus & Allergy typically does not recommend nasal decongestant sprays because they are addicting and have a high potential potential for rebound congestion. Pseudoephedrine is an oral decongestant that reduces your blood flow and shrinks the membranes in your nose.
