Montgomery News

• More than 23 million people in the U.S. suffer from allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever.
• Ragweed allergy is a common cause of hay fever.
• Fortunately, there are several treatment options available for allergy sufferers.

Allergic rhinitis is also called hay fever, and an allergy to ragweed is a major cause of allergic rhinitis, according to the Allergy & Asthma Network.

Ragweed allergy sufferers feel the peak effects of their symptoms in mid-September, and those symptoms can last until November. Ragweed plants grow in abundance across the country, and their pollen can be found in every state. Common allergy symptoms include a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes and noses, and hives. People who are allergic to ragweed and also have asthma could experience a flareup in asthma symptoms if they inhale the plant's pollen. Asthma-related hospitalizations spike in mid-September, thanks to ragweed pollen.

"You're doing your spring cleaning and you breathe in a bunch of dust," Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Montgomery News. "This inflammatory process clogs those little tiny openings, and when those openings are clogged, the mucus that the sinus lining is producing just hangs around in the nasal passages. That's a nice culture medium for bacteria to overgrow and lead to a sinus infection, (and it) can also lead to really thick postnasal drip and lead to a lot of throat clearing, and they start to feel that mucus in the back of their throat. So that's a common symptom of patients who have allergies."

To minimize symptoms, allergy sufferers can take the following steps: Premedicate with a nasal spray or antihistamine, change clothing and take a shower after coming inside, wear a mask outdoors, keep windows and doors closed, and monitor ragweed pollen counts. People who are allergic to ragweed should also avoid certain foods that are botanically related to ragweed, including bananas, mangoes, artichokes, cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons, sunflower seeds and zucchini.

To diagnose allergies, doctors review the patient's symptoms and medical history, and they may recommend either a blood test or a skin test, according to WebMD. For a skin test, the doctor will place a small amount of the allergen on the patient's skin, typically on the forearm or back. If the patient is allergic to that particular allergen, a small, itchy bump will appear.

Depending on the type and severity of your allergies, your doctor could recommend various treatment options, according to Mayo Clinic. Some treatments options are over-the-counter medications, nasal sprays, allergy shots, immunotherapy, or, for very severe allergies, carrying an emergency epinephrine shot, such as an EpiPen.

If you are suffering from allergies and are looking for information on testing or treatment, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.