How Can I Tell If I Have Nasal Allergies Or A Cold?
Many patients are unsure if they have allergies or a common cold due to the overlap of symptoms. In general, allergies do not produce fever, chills, or body aches; these symptoms are typically caused by an infection. Another indicator is the length of your symptoms. Common colds or infections typically reside within a few weeks, while allergy symptoms can be long-lasting. Our sinus specialist in NYC can evaluate your condition to determine if you have an infection or if your symptoms are caused by allergies.
What Are Some Common Allergy Treatments?
Your allergy specialist will develop a treatment plan aimed at identifying allergies, avoiding allergens if possible, and treating the symptoms caused by allergies. Common allergy treatments include nasal rinses to clear nasal passages and decongestants to improve airflow through the nose. Nasal corticosteroid sprays can reduce nasal inflammation and relieve symptoms. Antihistamine medications may also be prescribed to limit your body’s production of histamines that exacerbate allergy symptoms.
Some patients may be candidates for immunotherapy to treat allergies. These treatments typically involve a series of allergy shots that help decrease your body’s sensitivity to the allergen. Each injection contains a small amount of the allergen and dosages increase over time. Immunotherapy can be effective for treating allergies to pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold, among others. Your allergy doctor in NYC can recommend which treatments are right for you and can answer any questions you may have.
Can Clarifix® Treat My Allergies?
Clarifix® is a minimally invasive allergy treatment that can help relieve the symptoms of nasal allergens, including seasonal rhinitis and chronic rhinitis. Clarifix® can reduce nasal congestion, runny nose, and post-nasal drip to improve overall quality of life. The Clarifix® device uses cryotherapy to freeze the posterior nasal nerves located at the back of the nasal cavity. This freezing effect temporarily disrupts the nerve signals that trigger allergy symptoms.
Clarifix® can be performed under local anesthesia using an endoscopic probe. The endoscope allows your allergy specialist to see inside the nasal cavity and treat the posterior nasal nerves. The probe delivers controlled cooling to both sides of the nasal cavity for approximately 30 seconds each.
There is minimal downtime required and patients can resume most daily activities immediately following Clarifix® treatment. You may experience some light congestion for a few days. Patients should avoid heavy lifting, bending down, and vigorous exercise until permitted by their allergy specialist. Clarifix® patients can begin to see allergy treatment results within 2-6 weeks. Follow-up treatments are necessary to maintain results.