North Texas News

• More than 23 million people in the U.S. suffer from allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever.
• Ragweed allergy is a common cause of hay fever.
• Fortunately, there are several treatment options available for allergy sufferers.

Allergic rhinitis is also called hay fever, and an allergy to ragweed is a major cause of allergic rhinitis, according to the Allergy & Asthma Network.

Ragweed allergy sufferers will feel the peak effects of their symptoms in mid-September, and those symptoms can last until November. Ragweed plants grow in abundance across the country, and their pollen can be found in every state. Common allergy symptoms include a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes and nose, and hives.

People who are allergic to ragweed and also have asthma could experience a flareup in asthma symptoms if they inhale the plant's pollen. Asthma-related hospitalizations spike in mid-September, thanks to ragweed pollen.

"Allergies cause mucosal inflammation and swelling, which also causes the lining of the nose to be more susceptible to infection and become a viral infection," Dr. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told North Texas News. "Allergens will set the stage for people getting sick, but also over time, they will cause enlargement of the nasal lining, and that can also lead to obstruction of the openings of the sinuses and inflammation within the sinuses themselves. One thing that particularly we have in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is nonallergic irritants or pollutants, which definitely potentiate the effects of allergens by breaking down the lining of the nose. This is why we have so many people who move here who, six months later, are coming in with nasal and sinus problems. Treating those issues improves the function of the nose, as well as the sinuses. Unfortunately, a lot of times people wait long enough to where it's very hard to reverse the changes that occur inside of the sinuses."

To minimize symptoms, allergy sufferers can take the following steps: Premedicate with a nasal spray or antihistamine, change clothing and take a shower after coming inside, wear a mask outdoors, keep windows and doors closed, and monitor ragweed pollen counts. People who are allergic to ragweed should also avoid certain foods that are botanically related to ragweed, including bananas, mangoes, artichokes, cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons, sunflower seeds and zucchini.

To diagnose allergies, doctors review the patient's symptoms and medical history, and they may recommend either a blood test or a skin test, according to WebMD. For a skin test, the doctor places a small amount of the allergen on the patient's skin, typically on the forearm or back. If the patient is allergic to that particular allergen, a small, itchy bump will appear.

Depending on the type and severity of your allergies, your doctor could recommend various treatment options, according to Mayo Clinic. Some treatments options are over-the-counter medications, nasal sprays, immunotherapy, or, for very severe allergies, carrying an emergency epinephrine shot, such as an EpiPen.

If you're suffering from allergies and are interested in learning more about testing or treatment, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.