Allergy Symptoms
Runny or Stuffy Nose
Allergic rhinitis, known as hay fever, is a term used to describe allergic reactions in the nose. Symptoms of hay fever can include sneezing, congestion and runny nose, as well as itching in your nose, eyes and/or the roof of your mouth. Other allergy-related conditions can cause a runny or stuffy nose, as well as sneezing. These include:
Sinus Infection: There are two major forms of sinus infections (also called sinusitis): Acute and chronic. Both acute and chronic sinus infections can be viral or bacterial. Some long-standing infections are fungal.
Decongestant nasal spray overuse. Over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays are commonly used to relieve nasal congestion from colds or allergies. But if you use them regularly for as little as three days, a rebound nasal congestion can occur. If you continue to use the spray, the rebound effect gets worse and worse, leading to almost chronic nasal blockage. Many times, people with this condition don’t realize that the spray is causing the problem.
Nonallergic rhinitis. These are ailments that mimic some of the symptoms of hay fever, such as nasal congestion and postnasal drip, but are not caused by allergies. Different than nasal allergies, these nonallergic nasal problems usually appear in adulthood, don’t usually make your nose and eyes itch, don’t include sneezing and often occur year-round.
Triggers
People who suffer from nasal allergy symptoms don’t all have the same triggers. If you have seasonal allergies, you might be allergic to a specific tree or grass pollen that only sets off your symptoms at a certain time of year. Or you might be allergic to a specific kind of mold that appears in the fall when it’s been raining, and leaves are wet.
More than two-thirds of people who suffer from seasonal allergies also have symptoms year-round, and it’s important to know your triggers. Once you know your triggers, you are better equipped to avoid them. How do you stop a runny or stuffy nose due to allergies? The best allergy medicine for sneezing is to contact the Sinus Institute of Atlanta to schedule a consultation to see an allergist.
Wheezing or Shortness of Breath
Swelling or narrowing of your throat or the airways to your lungs can cause wheezing. It can also result in shortness of breath, because your lungs can’t hold as much air when they are affected by swelling or mucus buildup.
Although asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are most often associated with wheezing, an allergic reaction is another common cause of these symptoms.
Sometimes children experience wheezing, but it is not always a sign of asthma. A lung infection can create wheezing in children younger than 5. And wheezing and shortness of breath can sometimes be symptoms of a cold in children with a family history of allergies.
Wheezing is often, but not always, related to an asthma attack. During an asthma attack, the airways become narrower. At first, the person wheezes when breathing out, but as the attack gets worse, the wheezing might happen when breathing in. During a severe asthma attack, there might not be any wheezing because not enough air is moving through the airways.
Triggers
Asthma symptoms like shortness of breath are often closely linked to allergies and exposure to allergic triggers, such as ragweed, pollen, animal dander or dust mites. Irritants in the air like smoke, chemical fumes, strong odors or extreme weather conditions can also be triggers. Sometimes exercise or an illness — particularly an illness that affects your breathing like flu or bronchitis — can bring on asthma symptoms.
In addition, if you start wheezing or coughing during exercise, or if physical exertion makes it difficult for you to breathe, you may have exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). This is also known as exercise-induced asthma.
Emotions can also affect the way people breath. Physical actions like crying, laughing or shouting can trigger your asthma. Trying to relax and follow a set of instructions is helpful in handling an asthma attack, but panic can make it worse. The rapid breathing that often comes with strong emotions can narrow your airways even more.
Pregnancy can be a trigger for women with asthma in several ways. Hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy can affect the nose and sinuses, as well as the lungs. An increase in estrogen contributes to clogging of the tiny blood vessels in the lining of the nose, which in turn leads to a stuffy nose, especially in the third trimester. A rise in progesterone can also cause shortness of breath. These events may be confused with or add to allergic or other asthma triggers.
Chronic Cough
If you have a chronic dry cough (a cough that has lasted for more than three weeks), it may be a symptom of allergies or asthma. If your cough is allergy-related, you might notice that you cough more during some seasons, or in some environments. This can be caused by the presence of allergens that may affect you.
You might also have other symptoms of allergy. Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) can cause sneezing, congestion, and itchy skin, eyes and nose, as well as a cough. Congestion from allergies can also cause dark circles, called allergic shiners, to appear under your eyes.
An allergy cough is caused by your immune system’s response to an allergen, rather than by an infection like a flu or cold cough. Asthma can also cause a cough. If you are also wheezing or have tightness in your chest or shortness of breath, you may have an asthma cough. Your board-certified allergist is a specialist in helping patients find relief from symptoms like asthma and allergy cough.
Triggers
Asthma and allergy coughs are typically caused by swelling or irritation of the airways. Allergies like hay fever can cause a chronic dry cough. If you’re sensitive to dust, pet dander, pollen, mold, or other common allergens, then your allergy symptoms may include a cough. Allergies can also worsen your asthma symptoms, causing them to become severe.
Rashes
Eczema, contact dermatitis, and hives are three common kinds of skin rashes that may be related to allergies.
Eczema(also called atopic dermatitis) frequently appears as dry, red, cracking and itchy skin. If you have eczema, you may also experience small bumps that ooze a clear or yellowish fluid.
Contact Dermatitisis an allergic skin reaction to an irritant or allergen. The reaction can appear as a rash, blisters, burning or itching.
Hives (also called urticaria) are red, itchy welts or bumps that don’t usually last long. Hives lasting less than six weeks (acute urticaria) are usually caused by an allergic reaction or a viral infection. They may appear on different parts of the body but usually last 24 hours or less.
Triggers
Eczema flare-ups can be triggered by contact with allergens like animal dander, irritants like coarse fabric, or household products like detergents and cleaners. Being too hot, too cold, stressed or ill can also trigger an eczema outbreak.
Contact dermatitis can be triggered by skin contact with a variety of allergens or irritants. Plants like poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are common triggers. Household products like hair dyes, cosmetics, soaps and lotions can also trigger contact dermatitis. If you’ve experienced sensitivity, try avoiding products with strong fragrances or chemical smells. Nickel, a metal commonly found in jewelry, is another common material that can cause an allergic reaction. Natural rubber latex, leather and medications that you put on your skin, can also be triggers.
The sun can also cause a skin rash when interacting with cosmetic or skin products. This is not a sun allergy, but if you develop a rash in the sun after using products like shaving lotion, sunscreen or perfume, you may be experiencing photoallergic contact dermatitis.
Hives can be triggered by insect stings or bites; contact with allergens like latex, chemicals, animals, plants or cosmetics; or ingestion of foods or medications. Cold, heat, pressure, sweating, vibration (from running, snoring, clapping, etc.), sunlight and water can also be triggers.It can be difficult to identify what triggered your rash. Allergists are trained specialists who can help you identify the source of your allergic reaction and develop a treatment plan to help you find relief.
Sleep Deficiency
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
Sinus Headache
A sinus headache usually involves pain localized over the sinus area. You may also experience pain in your face along with or instead of a headache. A migraine headache is a usually a throbbing pain on one side of the head. Light may make it worse, and you could also experience nausea. Allergy headaches can be very painful and disrupt your daily routine. At the Sinus Institute of Atlanta, a board-certified allergist can help you control your allergies and get relief from this pain.
Triggers
A sinus headache is caused by swelling in the sinuses that blocks the openings, preventing drainage and causing pressure to build up. Common seasonal and year-round allergens like pollen, mold and pet dander can cause your body’s immune system to react with a sinus headache, even if you have no other allergy symptoms.
Migraine headaches can be caused by many factors, including genetics. Environmental allergies and food intolerances have been linked to migraines. If you suffer from recurrent migraines, your allergist can help you determine whether you are sensitive to common food allergens like peanuts, eggs or milk.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are the most likely allergies to cause nausea and/or vomiting. A reaction occurs when your immune system overreacts to a food or a substance in a food, incorrectly identifying it as a danger and triggering a protective response.
You don’t normally associate seasonal allergies with nausea — for good reason. Nausea and vomiting are rarely, if ever, symptoms of a seasonal allergy. Typical seasonal allergy symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and maybe a rash.If you encounter something, you’re allergic to, your immune system considers the substance dangerous and releases a chemical called histamine to counteract it. Histamine can cause a variety of symptoms, including rash, headache, sneezing, runny nose and swelling — and in the case of food allergies, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If the allergen is something you breathe in, your reaction will probably affect your eyes, nose and lungs. If you eat the allergen, you’re more likely to have symptoms in your mouth, stomach and intestines.
Anaphylaxis is the most severe allergic reaction and can be life-threatening and requires immediate treatment with an epinephrine auto injector followed by emergency treatment.