Allergy Testing and Treatment at Sinus and Nasal Specialists of Louisiana
Painful allergy symptoms can bring you down and keep you from living the life that you deserve to be living. At Sinus and Nasal Specialists of Louisiana, we can help you take back your life through our allergy testing and treatment plan.
Common Allergy Symptoms
If you're trying to determine if it is time to get tested, you should look at which symptoms you are suffering from and if you can pinpoint them to specific allergic reactions. Some common symptoms include:
- Itchiness
- Mucous membrane irritation
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Increased heart rate
- Vomiting
If you notice that these symptoms coincide with specific events like coming in contact with your pet(pet dander), insect stings, a time of year, or other events highlighted here, you should schedule a test today.
Find the True Cause of Your Allergies with Allergy Testing
Whether you have year-round or seasonal allergies, how can you live life to the fullest if you are battling painful allergy symptoms? Our goal at Sinus and Nasal Specialists of Louisiana is to help you reduce or eliminate your allergies by developing a treatment plan that fits your lifestyle. But, first, we have to test you for allergens to ensure we are treating the right ones.
Allergy testing isn't just a simple test like some allergy testing facilities make it out to be. A full allergy test and sinus examination is the best way to ensure that we treat the real underlying cause of your sinus pain. Our allergy testing process starts with a sinus examination to make sure that you aren't suffering from any sort of nasal blockages. We then will gather your symptoms to begin to determine what allergies you are suffering from. We can then start the allergy testing.
The Allergy Testing Process
After gathering symptoms and performing a complete sinus examination to rule out any underlying conditions, we can discuss the type of allergy test that will work best for you. Allergy tests come in two main types, Skin prick testing and blood testing.
Allergy Skin Tests
Allergy skin testing is the most common form of testing because it can test for multiple allergens at once. It is also an excellent way for your doctor to determine the severity of your allergies. Skin prick tests are used to test for some of the most common allergens, including pet dander, dust mites, mold, pollen, and food allergies.
During the test, the skin is cleaned, and all foreign substances are removed. Then minor marks are drawn and labeled around each "prick" site. Finally, you are pricked or scratched with small amounts of the allergens being tested and a control group. There is no need to worry about pain or discomfort because skin prick tests simply feel like a fingernail scratch.
After the test has been administered, your ENT doctor will then compare the skin conditions of each site with the control site to see the severity of the reactions. It will then be determined which allergies you suffer from. Skin testing has been around for over 100 years and is an accurate way to determine which allergies you suffer from.
Skin testing has been around for over 100 years and is an accurate way to determine which allergies you suffer from.
Allergy Blood Tests
Allergy blood testing is less common and is usually utilized if there is a factor in play that will mess up your skin test. Some reasons you may need blood testing rather than a skin test include:
- A skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis
- You suffer from extreme allergic reactions
- You take a medication that may interfere with the test
A blood test is what it sounds like. During a blood test, blood will be drawn and tested to see what allergies you suffer from.
Find the Right Treatment for You
After testing, it is time to discuss treatment options. At Sinus and Nasal Specialists of Louisiana, we believe in providing treatments that fit your specific needs and health goals. When talking about treatment with us, we will guide you in choosing a treatment that:
- Fits your allergy profile
- Works with your other conditions and medicines
- Fits your long-term goals
- Fits your budget
- Fits your schedule
Allergy Treatment Options
Medication For Symptom Management
Certain medications can be used in quick response to allergic reactions and also control symptoms. While they won't bring you long-term relief, medications can be a good starting point in allergy treatment plans. Medications that can help control allergy symptoms include nasal sprays, skin creams, pills, liquid medicines, eye drops, and inhalers.
Most allergy medicines are affordable, safe, and effective, but as mentioned above, they may not provide long-term relief. For long-term relief, we offer immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy: Long-Term Allergy Relief
Immunotherapy is a form of allergy treatment that can bring some people long-term relief from their allergy symptoms. Immunotherapy is the process of slowly introducing your immune system to your allergens. Over time, your body will stop reacting to the allergens you are being treated for, and you will see a partial or complete reduction of symptoms.
Immunotherapy comes in the form of allergy shots and drops. Immunotherapy can also be affordable and is covered by many insurances.
Find an Allergy Treatment That Works for You
At Sinus and Nasal Specialists of Lousiana, we take pride in finding treatment options that work with our patient’s schedules, budget, and overall health needs. We can work closely with you to set up a treatment plan to reduce your painful allergy or sinus symptoms.