A range of upper respiratory conditions can affect how well you breathe, ranging from short-term infections to long-term chronic issues. Things like colds, sinusitis, influenza, and COVID-19 can inflame your nasal passages, make you labor for breath, keep you feeling exhausted, and make life unpleasant overall.
Another common reason for upper respiratory problems like those mentioned is allergies, which, unlike other illnesses, don’t come from infection but problems with your immune system response. Allergic reactions can make you feel miserable, but with some basic tips and strategies we can help you reduce outbreaks and help you breathe easier.
Let’s look at how allergies work, the common signals of an allergic reaction, and the methods you can use to keep them from happening.
Residents of the Kissimmee and Orlando, Florida, area struggling with the effects of allergies can find relief with Drs. Wade Han, Elvira Livigni De Armas, and their experienced medical team at Florida Ear Nose Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center.
This very common chronic disease results from your immune system overreacting to otherwise harmless foreign materials getting into your body called allergens. Despite the substance posing no threat to your health, the body responds by creating antibodies to attack and eliminate it.
Allergens vary wildly, as you can become allergic to many things, like pollen, pet dander (skin cells, saliva, and urine), mold, insect bites, foods, and several medications. There are also several types of allergic conditions, like asthma, eczema, and rhinitis, which can affect anyone, and over 24 million people in the U.S. deal with it.
The signs of an allergic reaction vary with the type of allergy you have. Allergic rhinitis and medication allergies most resemble having a cold or flu, with signs like rash, coughing, sneezing, runny, stuffy or itching nose, and watery eyes, and food allergies can cause localized or generalized itching, hive, swelling, nausea, and vomiting.
Some food allergies or insect bites are also severe enough to cause a reaction called anaphylaxis, which causes a closing of the airway, leading to difficulty breathing and swallowing, and can be fatal without immediate treatment.
Here are some options to avoid allergic reactions or lower their level of discomfort:
It’s done as a blood or skin test, and if you’re having these reactions but don’t know what’s causing it, this is a helpful way to identify it so it can be managed more effectively.
Several medications and treatments can help to reduce the impact of allergies, including oral antihistamines, oral, topical, or nasal corticosteroids, decongestants, and allergy shots, which reduce negative reactions to allergens over time.
If you know what you’re allergic to, remove them from your home environment to prevent further outbreaks. Airborne allergens can also be managed by using air filters.
Cleaning up areas where allergens may be, such as clearing out mold, vacuuming pet dander, and washing clothes that may have residual traces, can reduce your issues with allergies.
Anaphylaxis is managed by using EpiPens, which have epinephrine to immediately reduce severe symptoms so you can get help before things get serious.
Allergies are frustrating and can make life really difficult, but they can be treated and prevented, and we’re here to help. Make an appointment with Drs. Han, Livigni De Armas, and the Florida Ear Nose Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center team.
