Managing Nasal Allergies
When to Call the Doctor
Often nasal symptoms clear up on their own with a little time and all you need to do is use a few self-care remedies to help relieve congestion, pain, or runniness while you wait it out.
But have you ever had cold or allergy symptoms that just kept hanging around, no matter what you did to help yourself feel better? Self-care strategies do have their limits, so you need to know when to bring your problems to the attention of a healthcare provider. Sometimes a stuffy, runny, or painful nose that doesn’t get better can be a sign of something more serious that requires special care.
For starters, any symptoms that last more than a week or two or are chronic — meaning they come and go periodically — should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
More Red Flags
In addition to persistent or chronic symptoms, here’s a list of more red flags that may indicate your nasal symptoms have an underlying cause requiring professional care:
• Thick, yellow nasal discharge
• Fever higher than 101°F that lasts for more than 3 days
• Headache, facial pain or pressure, or pain in the upper teeth
• Bad breath
• Coughing up thick mucus (clear, colored, or bloody)
• Difficulty breathing
Symptoms such as these may indicate a bacterial or fungal infection (sinusitis) or another type of complication, such as asthma or bronchitis, that needs to be treated with prescription medication.
Severe cases of allergies may be accompanied by additional symptoms:
• Itchy, reddened, watery eyes
• Ear popping and fullness
• Itchy throat
• Pressure sensations located over the cheeks and forehead
• Wheezing or coughing
If you have any of these symptoms along with your typical allergy symptoms, talk to a healthcare professional right away.
When you visit your healthcare provider, he or she may perform a detailed exam of your ears, nose, and throat to determine the cause of your symptoms. You’ll also need to be prepared to answer specific questions about your symptoms, such as when they started, how severe they are, and which self-care treatments you have tried.
By sharing as much information as you can, you’ll be helping your healthcare provider make the best diagnosis and treatment recommendations possible.
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