Many antihistamines are available over the counter.

Allergy

Allergic rhinitis or hay fever symptoms occur when your immune system overreacts to an allergen such as pollen, molds, or even food. When seeing one of our providers, you can expect an accurate diagnosis, a treatment plan that works for you, and educational information to help manage your allergies.

Common Symptoms of rhinitis:
•    Itching in the nose, palate, throat, eyes
•    Sneezing
•    Stuffy nose (congestion)
•    Runny nose
•    Red, watery eyes
•    Allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes)

Hay fever symptoms tend to flare up in El Paso during the spring because of tree pollen and during the fall with weed pollen. This is called seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Common indoor allergens such as pet dander and saliva, mold, dust mite droppings and cockroach particles can also trigger year-round hay fever or perennial allergic rhinitis.

During your first visit you can expect the following:

1. Evaluation - With your help our providers will evaluate your allergy symptoms. In some patients, sinusitis, pollution, dust, and autoimmune disorders can resemble allergies.

2. Testing - After evaluating your symptoms, we then proceed to a simple 30 minute skin test.

3. Treatment - Based on your test results, our providers will create a personalized treatment plan based on what works best for you. Treatment plans can include medication and immunotherapy (allergy shots/sublingual drops).

After your first visit, we will continue to see you for follow up visits to be sure that your treatment plan is effective and you have relief of symptoms.

Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis

The first step to manage this condition is avoidance. Skin testing is helpful in diagnosing what you are allergic to so that you can avoid it. For outdoor allergens it is very important to keep your doors and windows closed as much as possible and bathe after working outside for extended periods of time.

Sometimes avoidance isn’t possible or does not work enough. Then immunotherapy or allergy shots can often be useful to control or even cure allergic rhinitis symptoms.

Nasal corticosteroid sprays control inflammation and reduce almost all symptoms of allergic rhinitis, including itching, sneezing, runny nose and congestion.

Antihistamines in the form of liquid, pills or nasal sprays may relieve sneezing, itching and watery nose. They are often not as effective against congestion, therefore, many allergy pills combine an antihistamine with a oral decongestant. Oral decongestants should not be used in patients with high blood pressure or cardiac issues.

Anti-leukotrienes, like montelukast, can decrease the symptoms of allergy in some people.