The heat and humidity in our region can leave you dripping in sweat and running indoors to seek relief. However, this strong desire to be inside with the air conditioner isn’t the only impact that Texas weather has on our lives.
As anybody suffering sinus or allergy symptoms knows, Texas weather can cause serious Texas allergies. Today, your trusted McAllen certified physician assistant Jonathan Lerma and his right-hand team of sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group of Valley ENT will discuss how Texas weather can affect your allergies.
Hot and muggy days can make it hard to breathe. This is especially the case for people with allergies. The high temperatures can also lead to your body working significantly harder to keep cool, making other physical processes tougher.
People whose nasal passages are blocked due to sinus inflammation will be particularly prone to breathing difficulties throughout humid weather. You may also find that you have issues breathing in the heat if you suffer from asthma.
While high humidity can be problematic, some of the solutions to mitigate any issues can be just as bad for allergy sufferers. If you spend a lot of time indoors to avoid outdoor weather that negatively affects your sinuses, you can end up exposing yourself to air that’s too dry.
Also, it’s not uncommon to bring outdoor allergens indoors. Pollen and dander, for example, can come on air currents and clothes, settling on furniture and bedding. Changing clothes when you get home and using high-quality filters on your home’s HVAC units can decrease the likelihood of running into allergies when indoors.
Here in Texas, our growing season tends to last year-round. Because of this, there’s almost always something blooming and releasing pollen into the air.
Some allergenic trees often bloom in the winter. Grasses release pollen in spring. Ragweed blooms in late summer and early fall. Learning which kinds of pollen you’re most susceptible to can make it easier to remain comfortable during the year.
Throughout high pollen count times of the year, try staying indoors during the day and engaging in outdoor activities after dark. Pollen counts and wind levels drop at night, meaning that you’re less likely to suffer from pollen-related allergy attacks.
Pollen isn’t the only allergen that can make allergy sufferers miserable. Mold is also an extremely common trigger for Texas allergies. Mold spores are always present in just about every environment. These spores linger unseen until they find the right combination of moisture and warmth to grow.
During heavy rains, there is almost always dead vegetation that can be host to allergenic mold and mildew. Inside homes, mold finds hospitable growing environments in damp cellars, closets, crawlspaces and even bathrooms with inadequate ventilation.
Even for people without chronic sinusitis or other sinus health problems, allergies can be a painful reminder of sudden weather changes. But how can you tell whether allergies are causing your pain or if you have an actual sinus infection? If you don’t have a history of sinus infections and think your allergies may be giving you trouble, try taking an antihistamine to treat your symptoms.
If your sinus issues are caused by allergies, taking an antihistamine should offer some relief. However, antihistamines aren’t beneficial for non-allergy related sinus issues. Even if they do provide some temporary relief, it’s not in your best interest to keep taking them.
A balloon sinuplasty treatment can help chronic sufferers without the painful traditional surgical procedures of cutting through nasal bone and tissue. This means patients feel less pain and heal at a quicker rate compared to other types of sinus treatments.
Whether you’re suffering from painful dry air, nagging allergies, or something in between, you should visit your local ENT for lasting relief. At our office or online, we can offer quality allergy treatments to help both diagnose and treat your pesky seasonal allergies. The road to healthier sinuses is only an appointment away.
With COVID-19 cases rising again this season, we will continue providing alternative options to have your symptoms addressed through telemedicine, where you can be taken care of from the safety of your home.
For in-person appointments, you can rest assured knowing we’re taking all precautionary measures, and we also accept calls.
When people think they may have a sinus infection, they may expect to have a slight fever, maybe some pressure around the eyes and cheek bones, or a congested nasal passage.
That isn’t always the case, however. Sinus infections, also known as sinusitis, aren’t solely painful. If left untreated, they could cause meningitis--a bacterial or fungal inflammation of the brain or spinal cord’s surrounding membranes--putting you at risk for seizures, brain damage, and even death.
The good news is there are things you can do to promote sinus health. Your reliable McAllen certified physician assistant Jonathan Lerma and his team of sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group of Valley ENT know a few things you can use to avoid getting a particularly bad case of sinus infection.
Many viruses and bacteria are contracted by someone touching a contaminated surface and then touching their bodies and getting sick. When washing your hands, you reduce the bacteria and virus count that your immune system has to deal with.
Avoid touching your face and/or rubbing your nose. Not only does this put any bacteria or virus remaining on your hands in closer contact with being inhaled into your system, but it also increases the transmission of any illness you might have to others.
Invest in small bottles of hand sanitizers to carry with you so that if water isn’t available, you can still clean your hands regularly, especially before eating.
These are available over the counter and should be used without any decongestant as additive. Similar to washing your hands, when you rinse your nose, the concentration of virus and bacteria that you have inhaled is diminished.
If you’re new to saline sprays, try purchasing smaller bottles of different strengths to see which you prefer, or try using saline gel. Many people use a Neti pot for added humidity and nasal irrigation. These can be great for nasal moisture and cleaning, but they also have the potential for negative consequences if not cleaned regularly.
There are several types of the flu vaccines, from nasal mist to an injection. By getting the flu vaccine, you give your body improved defenses to lower your chances of getting the more common forms of influenza. This can also help you avoid developing infections in your sinuses caused by the virus.
Getting sufficient sleep is crucial for the body to rejuvenate and be better prepared to combat infections. When you’re not sleeping properly, your cortisol--also known as the stress hormone--rises, and this makes you less capable of handling the stress that comes with fighting off an infection.
Also throughout sleep, many of the supporting hormones and factors that are important for a healthy immune system are amplified. This is crucial for anyone fighting off sinusitis.
It’s imperative to incorporate leafy green vegetables and fruits high in vitamin C to help support our bodies defenses against viral and bacterial infections, especially if they are the cause of your sinusitis.
In addition, your body can lose moisture from daily activities and shivering, so staying hydrated is vital. In fact, dehydration can cause your mucus to thicken, making it easier for your sinuses to become more susceptible to infection.
Increase the sterilization of your equipment, especially if there’s any nasal sniffling or symptoms of onset sinusitis. Sterilizing equipment daily will minimize the likelihood of bacteria, settling in the tubing and/or humidifier chamber and resulting in more constant infections.
Especially after any illness, put your pillows in the dryer for a 60 minutes cycle or cover them in a plastic bag that’s tied and left in the garage for several days to support their sterilization.
For short time periods, air out and ventilate the house. This’ll help to reduce bacterial and viral counts indoors, especially when multiple family members get sick and pass it around to each other. Purchase air purifiers, and avoid sharing utensils.
Sometimes despite your best effort to avoid exposures, practice good hygiene, and follow a healthy diet, you may still contract an illness and need medical assistance for symptoms of cough, yellow or green nasal drainage, and/or worsening fevers that aren’t improving, especially after three days.
Sometimes the solution may be antibiotics and/or medicated nasal sprays like nasal steroids, antihistamines, or cough suppressants. Other lasting remedies for sinusitis may fall in line with balloon sinuplasty, so speak with your sinus relief specialists here at the Glatz Group to see if this procedure is right for you.
With the pandemic in mind, we still provide alternative options to have your symptoms addressed, including via telemedicine where you can be taken care of from home.
For in-person appointments, your safety and comfort is important to us. Please note that we’re taking all precautionary measures necessary, and we also accept calls.