If you’re a Denver, Colorado-area resident with an allergy, you know that allergies can turn a perfectly fine day into an uncomfortable one. Often times, people with allergies have underlying nasal issues like a deviated septum or narrowed sinus openings that contribute to their condition. For that reason, it is important for patients in Colorado with allergy symptoms to see an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor who is also an allergist.
General allergists address allergy problems, but ignore nasal issues when treating patients. Here are some commonly asked questions about allergies. ENT doctors who are not allergists will treat nasal and sinus issues, but send patients to general allergists to treat their allergies. Dr. Michael Menachof at Advanced ENT & Allergy Center is an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor in addition to a fellow in the Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy. This means Dr. Menachof is able to address all the possible causes of your congestion and discomfort. He will treat both your allergies and nasal issues in the order he feels is correct for you and your specific condition.
To understand the scope of your allergies, Dr. Menachof will often recommend that patients have an allergy test performed by the office nursing staff. This test helps our treatment professionals determine your allergens and the severity level of each. We then can tailor your allergy treatment to your exact needs. Before seeking treatment consider these allergy control tips.
Advanced ENT Allergy Center in Denver has been helping patients all along the Front Range of Colorado manage their allergies for over a decade. We are the area experts in immunology and allergy treatment, in addition to providing treatment for asthma and other breathing issues.
Typical Allergy Symptoms
When we think about allergies we tend to think about sneezing, itching and a runny nose. While these “classic” allergy symptoms are common, there are many combinations of allergy symptoms.
These include:
- Nasal congestion
- Facial pressure
- Headaches (including migraines)
- Post-nasal drainage
- Sneezing
- Itchy eyes or nose
- A drippy nose
- A cough
- A sore throat
- Frequent throat clearing
- A hoarse voice
- Worsening of asthma
- An upset stomach
- Frequent sinus infections
- Fatigue
Many people with allergies will have a combination of a few or many of these symptoms. Some people with allergies will only have one or two of these symptoms.
It’s amazing how many people we see with a few of the more “atypical” symptoms on the list (like frequent throat clearing, a chronic cough, or fatigue), who never considered allergies as a possibility, but whose symptoms resolve for the first time in years when their allergies are treated.
A simple skin test that takes less than an hour can tell us if you are allergic, what you are allergic to, and how allergic you are to each item. Children as young as six years old are able to comfortably undergo the testing.
Since allergies are caused by a hyperactive immune system, most people with symptomatic allergies respond to items present in every season (trees in the spring, grasses in the summer, weeds in the fall, and mold in the winter). This means that many people with allergies will not have a seasonal component, and instead are symptomatic year-round.
Allergy Treatment
At Advanced ENT & Allergy Center, we treat our allergy patients in a variety of ways – ranging from symptom management with medicines to ultimately curing your allergies using immunotherapy. When it comes to treating your allergies, you have a number of options. We can help you explore the benefits of each so you can choose which option is best for you. Some of these options include:
Allergy Drops
Dr. Menachof is proud to offer allergy drops as a cure to environmental and seasonal allergies. The only cure for any inhaled allergy is desensitization, which increases your immune system’s tolerance to allergens over time. This treatment can be administered under the tongue daily through the use of allergy drops. At a microscopic level, allergy drops work much like shots, slowly desensitizing you to your allergies, and teaching your body not to react to allergic stimuli the way it has been. If you are a good candidate for allergy drops, your bottle will be mixed specifically for your allergies and their severity levels, based on the results from your skin test. One bottle contains a 3-month supply of allergy drops and is mailed directly to your home. Three drops a day under your tongue is all it takes to rid you of your allergies. It doesn’t get much easier or more convenient than that. With today’s busy lifestyles, drops are an ideal solution for many of our allergy patients. Learn more about allergy drops.
Allergy Shots
A series of weekly injections are administered to patients for a 3 to 5-year period. Shots are tapered off during the final 1 to 2 years. These injections cause your body to make blocking antibodies, stopping the allergic reaction from taking place. Patients taking injections must wait 20 minutes to monitor for any adverse reaction. Most insurance companies cover injections, though co-pays apply to each office visit.