Allergies

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), roughly 50 million people in the United States suffer from allergies. While there are common allergens, such as bee stings, pollen, pet dander and mold, whether or not a substance leads to an allergic reaction depends on your immune system.

Some allergies can trigger a life-threatening medical emergency known as anaphylaxis, which can cause you to go into shock. If you’re experiencing symptoms, call 911 immediately.

If available, use an epinephrine auto-injector while you await help. Even if symptoms improve after the injection, you should still seek immediate medical help to ensure that the symptoms don’t return once the injection wears off.

The same substances that cause your allergies may also trigger asthma signs and symptoms. Our care team works with you to develop an asthma action plan. This usually includes quick-acting asthma remedies delivered via an inhaler. As soon as you experience breathing problems, use your prescribed medication by inhaling it deeply into your lungs. If your symptoms are severe, visit our nearest location immediately after use.

In addition to your prescribed, quick-relief medication, your care team may recommend certain strategies for lessening the severity of your asthma attacks. To open your airways and improve lung function, you can drink caffeinated tea or coffee, or inhale eucalyptus essential oil. Additionally, sitting upright and taking deep, slow breaths will help calm you and provide additional relief.

You may receive a prescription for inhaled corticosteroids or oral medications to help prevent future asthma attacks. It's important that your condition is monitored over time so that we can make adjustments to the prescribed medications if needed.

For a bacterial sinus infection, antibiotics are the standard treatment. The length of treatment depends on the type of antibiotic, the severity of your symptoms and any risk factors you may have. If you experience severe or chronic sinusitis, longer treatments may be prescribed. Since antibiotics don't immediately alleviate symptoms, your care team may recommend other medications to provide faster relief.

If you'd like to treat your sinus infection without antibiotics, our specialists may recommend nasal decongestants to shrink swollen nasal passages. This treatment method shouldn't be used for more than three to four days, as overuse may cause the nasal passages to swell shut.

Other treatments include nasal rinses to clear thickened secretions and antihistamines to block the inflammation that leads to swollen nasal and sinus passages. If minimally invasive treatments no longer provide relief, we may refer you to an otolaryngologist for sinus surgery.

The content provided on the MD Now® website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for receiving medical care and treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Never delay seeking advice, evaluation and treatment from a medical professional because of what you've read on this site.