Williamsburg Sun

• People who have spring allergies might start feeling their symptoms kicking in, as trees have begun to pollinate.
• Symptoms can include sneezing, itchy eyes, coughing, congestion and fatigue.
• People who need to undergo allergy testing or treatment have several options. 

People who are suffering from allergies have several testing and treatment options, according to Dr. John Ditto of the Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, ultimately depending on what works best for them.

"The paranasal sinuses and the nose and the airway are linked, because of airflow and because of their mucosa and how they react to allergens and other agents that could irritate either one,” Ditto told the Williamsburg Sun. “If a patient has allergic rhinitis at a young age and it's not managed, they can then form asthma.”

Ditto also explained that in cases of chronic sinusitis with the inflammatory mediators, it is thought that mucus ultimately gets into the lungs, and that creates a problem with asthma.

“Some believe that chronic sinusitis with infection can leak into the airway and drip into the lungs and cause pulmonary issues,” he said. “So there's a direct link, and then that can exacerbate asthma."

Yale Medicine reported that some 50 million Americans suffer from allergies and their symptoms, and there are usually two options for testing. One is a skin-prick test, which includes the injection of a small amount of allergens under the skin, which will become irritated if the patient has an allergy, and results are available in a day or two. The second option is a blood test, which takes longer to produce results but allows doctors to test for more allergens than the skin test.

According to Blanchard Valley Health System, patients suffering from allergies could start to feel the impact beginning in February or March as trees begin to form pollen. As the pollen is spread by winds, it can irritate the skin, eyes, nose and mouth, engaging the allergy symptoms. The type of pollen differs from tree to tree, but allergists can determine whether pollen is from an oak, birch, walnut or any other tree and come up with individualized treatments.

According to Mayo Clinic, people who suffer from allergies should stay indoors on dry, windy days to avoid contact with pollen. They can track pollen counts, and when they come inside, they can shower to wash pollen from their skin.

Mayo Clinic suggested that patients suffering with allergies can use over-the-counter treatments -- such as oral decongestants, antihistamines and nasal sprays -- for relief from the symptoms. If issues persist, you can pursue one of the treatment options offered at Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.