Houston has a lot going on. The Bayou City is home to several professional sports teams. You can catch a football or baseball game if soccer’s more your thing; the Dynamo proudly calls Houston home. The city also has a great food scene with cuisine from around the world. Shopping and the arts are other staples, along with a ridiculous amount of pollen.
Every season seems to bring a new batch of pollen and this can have you frantically searching for an allergy doctor in Houston. However, how do you know when it’s time to see a specialist? Actually, how do you know which allergy professional is best for you? If you’re like millions of other Houstonians, finding relief from allergies is at the top of your to-do list.
Allergy Doctors Treat a Variety of Problems
Allergies can affect anyone; tour age, gender, and race don’t play a role in whether or not you develop allergies.
However, allergies are typically more common in children. If you vaguely remember being allergic to cat dander as a child, but your symptoms disappeared as you got older, it’s not uncommon. Unfortunately, this can also indicate there’s a good chance your childhood allergies will pop back up later in life.
So, what causes allergies? The list is extensive. Plant pollen is a common one in Houston. In the spring, tree pollen is often the culprit and summer can bring grass allergies. Animal dander, mold, dust, and feathers are other common causes of allergies.
Whether your eyes are red and watery, you’re congested, or your nose won’t stop running, all you can think about is finding some relief. Did you know an allergy doctor can treat these symptoms and more?
Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis)
Chances are, if you’re sniffly, congested, and have red, watery eyes, someone’s going to ask if you have hay fever. Also known as Allergic Rhinitis, it’s commonly triggered every season in sufferers except for winter.
The colder weather brings some relief, at least until spring. The common symptoms of hay fever include a runny nose, sneezing, and congestion, along with itchiness in the nose, eyes, and even on the roof of your mouth.
Asthma
Just the thought of having asthma can be enough to send you into a panic. Most people know that asthma affects breathing and this can be frightening. However, asthma severity can range from mild, labored breathing to a life-threatening attack. Not all asthma sufferers use an inhaler daily. Some may not even need to use one at all.
While you may not think of asthma as an allergy—the same allergens that can trigger hay fever can also cause an asthma attack. This means the same physician treating your cat dander allergies probably has patients suffering from asthma.
Skin Allergies
Hives, eczema, along with atopic and contact dermatitis are types of common skin allergies. What causes these types of allergies? Some plants, like poison ivy and oak, can cause skin irritations. Insect bites and stings, for Houston residents, just think of the painful, itchy patches left by fire ants. Animals, medicines, and chemicals found in household cleaners can also irritate the skin.
Skin allergies don’t always appear the instant you come in contact with the allergen. Some can take a few hours or even a day or so to develop. A great example is poison ivy. You can rub against the leafy vine and not realize it for a few days. When the red and itchy patches appear, you may not realize they’re caused by exposure to poison ivy.
If your stress levels are commonly high, it can also cause an allergic reaction. The signs and symptoms can even be similar to a poison ivy rash. When stress is the cause of your allergies, a good tip is to look for ways to ease some of your excess tension.
Anaphylaxis
Some individuals can experience a severe allergic reaction that can even be fatal. Known as anaphylaxis, multiple bodily functions are affected simultaneously, including breathing. Some common causes of the condition include food allergies like nuts or shellfish. Medications and even insect stings can also result in the body going into anaphylactic shock. Along with an inability to breathe, other symptoms include:
- Severe vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Sudden and severe drop in blood pressure
- Red patches on the skin
- Swelling of the tongue and/or throat
Some individuals can also lose consciousness. If you believe you or someone else is experiencing any of these symptoms it’s vital to seek immediate medical attention.
Should You Schedule a Visit with an Allergy Doctor in Houston
You probably don’t need to make an appointment with a Houston allergy doctor every time you sneeze or cough. Sometimes, allergens get trapped in your nose, eyes, or throat and the symptoms go away in a few minutes. If this sounds like your allergy symptoms, you can probably skip a visit with a specialist.
However, before making up your mind it’s always best to get a second opinion from your healthcare provider. You do want to make an appointment with an allergy specialist if any of the following apply to you:
- Your allergies are causing chronic sinus infections or making it difficult to breathe
- Your allergy symptoms last for weeks or months and not a few minutes or a couple of days
- Over-the-counter medications aren’t providing relief. If non-prescription allergy medications are making you drowsy, you may also want to make an appointment with an allergy doctor.
- Your allergy symptoms are affecting your quality of life
- Catching your breath is difficult, even when you’re not moving around
- Your chest constantly feels tight or you’re wheezing and coughing almost constantly
Anyone who’s been diagnosed with asthma and is experiencing allergy symptoms should visit a specialist; your allergies may make your asthma worse, and this is something you want to avoid.
Breathe Better With Help From an Allergy Doctor
Houston is awesome, but not so much if you’re dealing with allergies. No need to suffer through sniffles, coughs, or sneezes all year, though.
Seeing a Houston allergy doctor can make a huge difference. They’ll get to the bottom of what’s bugging you and treat your symptoms so that you can get back to enjoying all the cool stuff in the Bayou City.
