Allergy / Sinus

Allergy and Sinus Problems

Allergies are very common, especially in north Texas. They can range from hay fever to severe daily sinusitis that causes headaches, missed work, fatigue, and loss of energy. To treat your allergies, among other things, we will want to know:

• What time of year do you have most of your problems
• What type of symptoms do you get with your allergies (runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, congestion, headache, etc)
• What have you tried in the past and did it work?

Examination of the head and neck with special attention to the nose is carried out. Sometimes, after using a topical anesthetic, a fiberoptic sinus scope is used to examine the sinus cavities in more detail. Depending on the anatomy of your nose, x-rays or a CT scan may be ordered to detail the possible locations of chronic sinus infections. In some cases, allergy testing may be needed.

Allergy and sinus problems can be treated in many different ways. 

• Avoidance of things you may be allergic to and modifying things in your house to decrease the irritants you are around
• Using a saline nasal wash
• Antihistamines (Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin, Allergra, etc.)
• Nasal steroid sprays

If you have tried all of these things and more but still have had no relief, we need to determine if the problem is allergies versus nasal anatomy. 

To determine if the problem is allergies, we can do a full skin or blood allergy test. This will help us determine if you are a candidate for allergy shots. 

Nasal anatomy can be a problem with a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, fungus/mold in the sinuses, or narrowing of the sinus openings. 

Click HERE to learn about nasal anatomy problems and their correction by surgery.