Minor Injuries: Seeking Treatment in a Timely Manner

As the seasons change, the world of allergens delivers a slew of new annoyances for people with sensitive noses. Many allergy sufferers are allergic to a wide range of airborne problems such as pollen, ragweed, mold and dust mites. One of the more confusing and frustrating situations is the person who lives their life completely aware of any allergies, only to find themselves crippled on a random vacation by something that only happens for 2 or 3 months out of the year. If you've been stricken by strange, cold-like symptoms specifically in the nose and throat only to feel them go away just as quickly, consider these allergy detecting, testing and management tips.

Never Felt This Way Before?

For those who haven't suffered from nasal/respiratory allergies before, it's a lot more than awkward sneezing. The body reacts to foreign body intrusion by producing mucous and violently expelling the perceived threat. This is often done by sneezing, but coughing can be triggered both by immune system reaction and by the irritation and choking caused by the mucous buildup. The reaction is different for every person and can even change in performance depending on what you're eating, drinking or breathing.

To many, it may seem like cold symptoms. If you haven't been tested for allergies yet, the strange moment of feeling better after leaving an area or no change in symptoms from the sinus trouble is a telltale sign.

Allergens such as ragweed are known to cause these confusing symptom flareups due to their short duration in some areas. Ragweed season often happens in the fall and often cut off by winter, but other allergens can arrive as pollen season releases its dominance over allergy sufferers. Some people are allergic to the dust and dried materials from plants as they die off in the fall and winter, for example, and you might be suffering from the dried materials of a specific plant.

How To Test For Specific Allergies

There are different tests available for multiple allergies. The allergen skin test (also known as the skin prick test) involves a group of small punctures against the skin with allergen substance. An allergy specialist observes skin's reaction to the substances and can judge the treatment levels from there.

These aren't to be mistaken for blood tests, which are for food allergies and hives--both valid concerns but with different price points that should be discussed with an allergy specialist. Along with the proper consultation, an allergy specialist can help you figure out which of the many over the counter allergy medications could help you, how to filter your home from the specific allergy threat or if your problem is specific to certain areas.

Contact an allergy testing center to figure out what's going on with your specific sneezing and stinging sensation. Everyone is different, but at least knowing about an allergy is better than dreading a surprise cold.