What You Need To Know About Inhalant Allergies

If you have noticed you suffer from itchy eyes, a runny nose, a scratchy throat, or other frustrating symptoms, you may have inhalant allergies. Allergies occur when your body reacts to something that is in the air. Inhalant allergies are caused by different things in the air that your body believes to be foreign to its biological makeup. When you are exposed to these allergens, your body then reacts. The following are some things you need to know about inhalant allergies:

What Are Some of the Most Common Inhalant Allergens?

There are foreign bodies that can be considered inhalant allergens. These allergens are found both inside and outside. If you notice that you only suffer from allergy symptoms during a certain time of year, you may have a seasonal type of inhalant allergy. Air pollution can also cause inhalant allergy symptoms.

Some of the most common allergens include mold spores, grass, weeds, fungi, smoke, dust, and smog. Indoor allergens can include dust mites, animal hair and dander, certain fragrances, household chemicals, smoke from candles or incense, cigarette smoke, fireplace smoke, or cleaning supplies. Common household products can also cause inhalant allergies, including paint, pesticides, carpeting, fuel, bug repellant, and detergents.

What Are Some Symptoms of Inhalant Allergies?

Most inhalant allergies have common symptoms. You may suffer from one or all symptoms when you are triggered by an allergen. You might also notice your reaction changes as you grow older. Some symptoms include a runny nose and congestion, headaches, itchy eyes, sore throat, rashes, sneezing, swollen eyes, coughing, and even loss of smell.

What Treatment Options Are Available?

There are different treatment options you can explore to help treat your inhalant allergy symptoms. Some treatments may work better than others, so be sure to discuss all the options with your ENT.

Some of the most common medications used to treat inhalant allergies include antihistamines, which block the histamines in your body to prevent a reaction to the allergen. You may also need a decongestant if you find your nasal passages are swollen and blocked. Corticosteroids are used for more severe allergies, as this is a steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. You may need to take allergy shots, which are small doses of the allergen injected directly into your body. These shots help train your body to become less sensitive to it over time.

Contact a local inhalant ENT or a professional to get to the bottom of your inhalant allergy symptoms. You may be allergic to multiple allergens, which may require different courses of treatment.

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