Seasonal allergies are a widespread issue, and many suffer from the runny nose, itchy eyes, and sinus pressure associated with certain plants. Most of the time, people suffer from congestion in their noses, sinus cavities, and ears. These are the most common symptoms associated with allergies, but there are more allergy symptoms that you may not be aware of.
By knowing the less common allergy symptoms, you can begin your allergy testing and immunization journey sooner. Our ENT specialists detail some of the rare signs of allergies below.
Your sinuses are the cavities inside your forehead, cheekbones, nose, and these pockets filter all the air that you breathe. If you’re breathing in allergens, they can get inflamed and make more mucus. This accumulation of mucus blocks your sinuses and prevents draining, and this is why you feel the pressure and pain in your sinuses. This is called a sinus headache and it gets worse when you move your head suddenly or strain.
If you suffer from frequent sinus congestion and sinus headaches, you may benefit from balloon sinuplasty. This is a non-invasive procedure in which an ENT manually clears out your sinuses.
Conjunctivitis is especially common in children who have allergies. Conjunctivitis can be the result of a viral infection but it can be allergic in nature as well. In allergic conjunctivitis, your child’s eyes are bloodshot, watery, and irritated.
You may need to take your child to a pedestrian ENT doctor to get a prescription for antihistamines.
Parents may notice a change in their child’s behavior that seemingly has no cause. Allergies can actually cause a child to act differently, especially seasonal allergies where the air they breathe is negatively affecting them.
You may notice that your child is exhibiting behavioral issues like irritability, malaise, fatigue, and general discomfort. This is because they are breathing in air that contains pollen that is irritating their sinuses. Especially at night, breathing in this air can cause them to breathe solely through the mouth, negatively impacting the sleep cycle.
Not getting a good night’s sleep can contribute to the behavior above.
Adults can also be impacted by the trouble sleeping that results from allergies. Allergies impact the sleep cycle in multiple ways.
First of all, nasal congestion can cause you to breathe through your mouth in order to be able to fall asleep. Breathing through the mouth is going to keep the body from getting a good night’s sleep.
On top of that, breathing cold or dry air through the mouth can also induce fits of coughing. It can also dry out the throat. If you wake up coughing in the middle of the night, you may need to contact an ear, nose and throat doctor to treat this issue.
Fatigue can negatively impact all aspects of your life, and it can put you in danger if you drive or operate machinery at work. It’s important to see a doctor if you suffer from frequent fatigue with no reasonable explanation.
A Sore Throat in the Morning That Gets Better Throughout the Day
Another symptom that may not strike you as a result of allergies is a sore throat in the morning. Many people wake up with a sore or scratchy throat, thinking they are sick. Then they are surprised when this sore throat gets better throughout the day.
A sore throat in the morning is common in the wintertime because you are breathing in the cold air. It’s also common in dry climates like Southern California.
This sore throat likely does not signal an illness, but rather an irritation caused by breathing in allergens all night. This can be helped by putting a humidifier in your room or seeing a doctor to treat your allergies.