Allergies’ sources, symptoms and treatments discussed

Are you experiencing a runny or a snotty nose, mucus, or sneezing and watery eyes? These symptoms could all be related to seasonal allergies.
This is what the open discussion and topic was during Wednesday evening’s “Dinner With The Doctor” held at the Acadian Medical Center’s Acadian Room.
Guest speaker was Dr. Larry Simon, M.D., a General & Pediatric ENT at AMC, who talked about Allergies: what they are, the symptoms, and how to treat them.
Dr. Simon said, “Did you know--allergies almost don’t exist in the third world country .. Africa, India, they have very few allergies.”
Understanding how our bodies fight off infections, Simon said, “Our bodies are built with five harbors division immune systems (A, B, G, M, E) with each doing a different function and fighting off bacterial and viral infections. White blood cells fight off infections.They pick up bacteria and “chop them very fine, and grind them up,” and then pull them into small pieces and uses them back into our blood stream.
“Your body can tell you when it is Not You.. your body tells you what is harmful to your body, viruses, etc.
Pollens, allergens, dust, parasites, mold and mildew are in the air and everywhere, which contributes to allergies.
Dr. Simon informed the small group attending that the number one source of allergies is dust. “It’s hard to get rid of dust...it’s everywhere. One can experience swelling of the nose, some mucus, a snotty nose from exposure.”
Going hand in hand with allergies is “the not-so -pleasant” snot. “Snot can be good and bad.. too little and too much can become problems. Snot is meant to moisturize the air you inhale. It acts like an air filter “or a fly trap”. An allergy attack makes the tissue in your nose swell up. Sometimes tissue in your nose will become too dry and bleed, and other times your nose will be moist and run.”
Simon said allergies are a leading cause of sinus infections. And reflux can also lead to sinus infections.
Dr. Simon suggested prescription nasal sprays help alleviate allergy and sinus symptoms, “However, be consistent with usage. And first washing your nose with distilled water consistently helps.”
For sufferers, Simon suggests sinus surgery as a last resort.
He does suggests allergy therapy, shots and allergy drops, which are used under your tongue. All allergy testing can be done at Acadian Medical Center.
Dr. Simon suggests to “teach” our immune system to react to pollens and other allergy-related particles, at a gradual rate.
“Our body reacts and is exposed to mold, mildew, parasites, and will react differently.. with sneezing, itchy and watery eyes.
Keeping our homes clean, washing sheets, carpet free, using dust sheet covers, and using air purifiers can help work against seasonal allergies.
Dr. Simon suggested, “Setting your hot water tank to 150 degrees for 15 minutes to wash sheets, and use a sanitize setting cycle on your washer machine. (This is 30 degrees higher than recommended usage) will help with killing dust mites.”
An additional help to preventing allergies is taking good care of yourself. “Taking good care of yourself, with diet and exercise are important, and will definitely help with your health.”
Some allergy sufferers experience coughing, sore throat, and post-nasal drip. Dr. Simon added, “Allergies can make excess snot from nose and this can become overloaded.. which can cause coughing, sore throat, post-nasal drip. When you have a sinus infection .. your body is unable to clear snot.”

Dr. Larry Simon is part of Hebert Medical Group-ENT AMC and is from Lafayette.