{"id":3190,"date":"2024-11-26T17:02:15","date_gmt":"2024-11-26T23:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/?p=3190"},"modified":"2024-11-26T17:02:47","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T23:02:47","slug":"understanding-year-round-allergies-and-how-to-manage-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/understanding-year-round-allergies-and-how-to-manage-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Year-Round Allergies and How to Manage Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Allergies affect more than <a href=\"https:\/\/aafa.org\/allergies\/allergy-facts\/#:~:text=How%20Common%20Are%20Allergies%3F,%2C%20eczema%2C%20and%20food%20allergies.&amp;text=Nearly%201%20in%203%20U.S.,%2C%20eczema%2C%20or%20food%20allergy.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">100 million people<\/a> in the U.S. each year. When we think of allergies, we often picture the blooming trees and vibrant flowers signaling pollen season. However, for many, allergies aren&#8217;t just a seasonal nuisance. If you find yourself battling symptoms all year long, you may be dealing with year-round (or perennial) allergies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike seasonal allergies, which are typically triggered by outdoor allergens like pollen during specific times of the year, year-round allergies are usually caused by indoor allergens. Common culprits include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mold<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dust mites<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pet dander<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certain foods or medications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Because these allergens are present year-round, they can cause symptoms at any time. Common symptoms of year-round allergies include sneezing, congestion, red or watery eyes, skin rash (hives), sinus pressure, headaches and fatigue. Let\u2019s explore how you can manage year-round allergies effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-identify-your-triggers\">1. Identify Your Triggers<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1223\" height=\"857\" src=\"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Senior-woman-on-her-couch-sneezing-into-a-kleenex.jpg\" alt=\"Senior woman on her couch sneezing into a tissue.\" class=\"wp-image-3193\" style=\"width:532px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Senior-woman-on-her-couch-sneezing-into-a-kleenex.jpg 1223w, https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Senior-woman-on-her-couch-sneezing-into-a-kleenex-768x538.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1223px) 100vw, 1223px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The first step in managing allergies is <a href=\"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/allergist\/allergy-testing\/\">identifying the specific allergens<\/a> causing your symptoms. Start by paying attention to when your symptoms arise. If they pop up around the same time you visit a friend with a big, fluffy dog, it\u2019s likely you\u2019re allergic to pet dander. Second, call Collin County ENT to schedule an allergy test with one of our specialists to pinpoint specific sensitivities.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-reduce-allergen-exposure\">2. Reduce Allergen Exposure<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve identified your triggers, focus on minimizing your exposure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Dust<\/strong>. Sweep, mop and vacuum hard and carpeted surfaces regularly and clean upholstered surfaces every few months. For extra protection, use hypoallergenic bedding and wipe down sneaky dust-collecting surfaces like broad-leafed plants and window blinds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mold<\/strong>. Run a dehumidifier or exhaust fans in damp areas like basements, bathrooms and kitchens. Clean mold growth regularly to prevent spreading.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pet dander<\/strong>. Bathe your pets routinely and vacuum your home often. If you\u2019re heading to the Plano Animal Shelter for a new pet, look for hypoallergenic breeds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-use-medications-for-relief\">3. Use Medications for Relief<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Over-the-counter allergy medications can help manage symptoms in the short term. Antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays are effective options. You may need to take medication every day or only during occasional flare-ups.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-explore-immunotherapy\">4. Explore Immunotherapy<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><br>For long-term relief, <a href=\"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/allergist\/allergy-immunotherapy\/\">consider immunotherapy<\/a>. This treatment involves regular injections or sublingual tablets to desensitize your immune system to allergens gradually. While it requires a time commitment of three to five years, many patients find the lasting symptom relief well worth the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t let year-round allergies hold you back from enjoying your life. Contact Collin County ENT today to discuss your treatment options with one of our specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><ul class=\"related-posts\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/how-does-the-immune-system-generate-allergy-symptoms\/\" class=\"related-post\">How Does the Immune System Generate Allergy Symptoms<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/hiking-with-allergies-how-to-enjoy-the-outdoors-without-the-sneezing\/\" class=\"related-post\">Hiking with Allergies: How to Enjoy the Outdoors Without the Sneezing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Allergies affect more than 100 million people in the U.S. each year. When we think of allergies, we often picture the blooming trees and vibrant flowers signaling pollen season. However, for many, allergies aren&#8217;t just a seasonal nuisance. If you find yourself battling symptoms all year long, you may be dealing with year-round (or perennial)&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3193,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20,18,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allergy","category-nose","category-sinus"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3190"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3190\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3195,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3190\/revisions\/3195"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/collincountyent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}