Is My Nasal Congestion Allergies?

May 24, 2017 | Allergy, Ask the Doc

Sometimes it’s hard to know if nasal congestion and sneezing are from an allergy or a cold. Many people have seasonal allergies or pet allergies, so they’re familiar with these symptoms and they usually know what’s causing them. In other cases, when people haven’t had severe allergies in the past, we usually start to consider allergies as a cause of congestion when the symptoms have lasted for over a week and haven’t responded to other types of treatment. If that’s the case, I’d ask the patient about things they may be exposed to, like a new pet in the house, for example. Or think about what might be flowering in that particular season that they might be reacting to, and recommend that they take an antihistamine on a trial basis to see if that helps their symptoms. If they’re still not getting better, and the symptoms have been lasting longer than a week, I’d recommend they see a doctor. Mount Sinai has urgent care centers in Manhattan and Brooklyn that are open every day, 365 days a year with extended hours, and you don’t need an appointment. So, just walk in and we’ll be happy to see you.

Judah Fierstein, MD is a board-certified emergency medicine physician at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients in the Upper West Side, Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, and Inwood. Trained in New York City, he is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He was awarded his medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also completed his residency in Emergency Medicine. He is the Medical Director of Mount Sinai Doctors Urgent Care. Dr. Fierstein is fluent in Spanish.

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Is it a Cold or Do I Have Allergies in the Winter?

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Allergy, Your Health

Many people suffer from a runny or stuffy nose, watery or itching eyes, sneezing, and sinus pressure in the winter months. Are these symptoms related to the common cold or allergies? While it may be difficult to tell based on symptoms alone, if your symptoms persist for more than a week, you may have an allergy, according to Shradha Agarwal, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Although pollen is not present in winter, the powdery substance is not the only cause of allergies.

Dust mites—microscopic eight-legged arachnids found in dust—are a major source of in-home allergen. Mites burrow in soft material; are commonly found in clothing, pillows, blankets, and mattresses; and feed on human skin scales, fungi, yeast, and bacteria. They are sensitive to light and depend on water to survive. Mites are susceptible to water loss at humidity levels below 65 percent;  because of this, allergen levels increase in the summer and remain elevated through the winter. Depending on humidity levels and temperature, the average life cycle of a dust mite varies from 60-120 days. Although they live for a short time, the damage is done quickly. Female mites can lay 50-80 eggs in a lifetime. Dust mite allergies are prevalent in children and adults. Symptoms are caused by inhaling airborne particles of dust mite waste. This commonly leads to post-nasal drip, nasal congestion, sneezing, and/or runny nose. Inhaling particles can also trigger asthma-symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing, and eczema.

Chemicals can be used to kill dust mites; however, this is not recommended. The effect is short term and requires repeated application of and exposure to harmful chemicals. The best strategy is to limit your exposure to dust mites. This is best achieved by:

  • Keeping the relative humidity in your home between 35-50 percent. This reduces the growth of dust mites. If you plan to use a humidifier in the winter, monitor the humidity with a hygrometer and keep below 50 percent.
  • Washing your bedding every week. This drowns mites, helping to reduce dust mite numbers and, consequently, mite allergen levels.
  • Dusting and cleaning wood floors with a clean, damp cloth.
  • Vacuuming regularly. High-efficiency particular air (HEPA) filtration helps decrease exposure to particles containing dust mite allergen.
  • Removing stuffed toys, throw pillows, drapes, and carpeting/rugs from the floor.
  • Using impermeable covers for dust mite on mattress and pillow encasing.
  • If you have to clean yourself, wear a mask.

Dust mite allergies can be treated with medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays, and eye drops. If your symptoms are not well controlled with allergy medication, your doctor may advise allergy immunotherapy which can be administered by injection (subcutaneously) or orally (sublingual). Visit an allergist to determine if you have a dust mite allergy.

A complete history and skin prick/scratch testing or a blood test for antibodies to dust mite allergens will be performed. If you are interested in more information or testing, please make an appointment to consult with me at the Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice.

Shradha Agarwal, MD

Shradha Agarwal, MD

Assistant Professor, Medicine, (Clinical Immunology), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Dr. Agarwal provides comprehensive care of allergic and immunologic disorders in both children and adults. She is the Program Director of Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Training Program and the Medical Director of the Allergy and Immunology Clinic.

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Asthma is No Match for a Great Game

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Allergy, Health Tips, Your Health

 

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Blog post written by Sonali Bose, MD MPH, Assistant Professor, Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Division, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

The show is not over yet. If you are like me and spent all summer long mesmerized by the limitless abilities of the summer Olympic athletes, prepare to keep your jaws open, as age-defying tennis stars are about to play their best games at the U.S. Open this fall. While these super-humans are constantly trying to outdo their opponents by a blink of a point, for many of these athletes–for example, four-time French Open champion Justine Henin–their toughest competition is not the player across the net: it is asthma. Other Olympic gold medalists, such as track-and-field star Jackie Joyner-Kersee and swimmer Amy Van Dyken, battled significant asthma symptoms throughout their professional careers. In fact, asthma affects 1 in 12 Olympians, making it the most common chronic illness among these competitive athletes. But having asthma doesn’t stop them from achieving their goals, and it shouldn’t stop you.
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Spring Allergy Season Has Sprung

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Allergy

Guest post by Lisa Ellman-Grunther, MD, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. 

Don’t be fooled by the small amount of snow still on the ground and the chilly temperatures. The spring allergy season in the New York City metropolitan area has arrived and the trees have started pollinating! The super harsh winter has created an outdoor environment which is expected to lead to very high pollen counts this season. (more…)

Eating Gluten-Free — What’s All the Hype?

Mar 24, 2014 | Allergy, Diet and Nutrition, Health Tips

It seems as if you can’t go anywhere today without encountering the words “gluten-free.” Every grocery store, restaurant, food package and friend seems to be boasting about all the gluten-free possibilities that exist. This latest food trend may be everywhere, but before you think of jumping on the GF bandwagon, I urge you to read on.

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What Is Chronic Sinusitis?

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Allergy, Common Illness

Located over the forehead, between the eyes, over the cheeks and behind the nose, the sinuses are air cavities in the skull that are surrounded by bone and lined with mucous membranes, the “skin” that covers the inside of the nose and sinuses. This membrane has glands that produce mucous, and hair cells (“cilia”) that move the mucous and filter the air. The sinuses and the nasal cavity—whose job it is to warm and filter the air as it passes through the nose during breathing—produce 1 liter of mucous daily, which naturally moistens the nose and throat and helps in the initial process of food digestion. When the mucous gets trapped in the sinuses and/or the sinuses are not breathing well, sinus pressure and possibly sinus infections will occur. (more…)

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