Millions of Americans suffer from nasal and sinus allergies, commonly known as hay fever. Often fragrant flowers are blamed for allergy symptoms, yet they are rarely the cause; their pollens are too heavy to be airborne.
An ear, nose, and throat specialist at Mt. Hood ENT & Allergy can evaluate your allergy symptoms and help determine the best treatment and management plan that will help make life more enjoyable.
Allergy Symptoms
- When an allergen enters the body the immune system rapidly recognizes it causing a series of reactions
- Allergy reactions often involve tissue destruction, blood vessel dilation, and production of many inflammatory substances, including histamine
- Histamine produces common allergy symptoms such as itchy, watery eyes, nasal and sinus congestion, headaches, sneezing, scratchy throat, hives, shortness of breath, etc.
- Other less common allergy symptoms are balance disturbances, skin irritation such as eczema, and respiratory problems such as asthma
Allergy Treatment
There are three basic accepted approaches to allergy treatment:
- Avoidance of the offending allergens (the things to which a person is allergic)
- Pharmacotherapy (medications) and
- Immunotherapy (allergy shots or sublingual immunotherapy)
Dr. Barlow has specialized in allergy testing and allergy treatment since 1996. He has extensive experience in evaluating your allergy symptoms, recommending avoidance, prescribing medical therapy, performing allergy testing and instituting allergy immunotherapy.
Call Mt. Hood ENT & Allergy at (503) 257-3204 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
References:
American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. One Prince St., Alexandria, VA 22314-3357, 1-703-836-4444
American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, 11130 Sunrise Valley Drive, St. 100, Reston, VA 20191