Allergies at the Atlanta Snoring Institute can be determined by drawing blood, known a RAST blood work, and by skin testing. Nasal congestion can be a major contributor to airway obstruction impacting snoring and sleep apnea. A stuffy nose due to allergies can cause even a non-snorer to snore and it can make symptoms worse for a chronic snorer or an individual suffering from sleep apnea. Getting tested and treated for your nasal allergies can significantly improve your quality of sleep.
Many common ear, nose and throat symptoms are caused by allergies. These include problems such as recurring ear infections, sinusitis, postnasal drainage, persistent cough and hoarseness. By determining the specific allergens that are causing the symptoms, our doctors can tailor a treatment plan for each patient.
The two main types of skin testing are prick testing and intradermal testing. The advantage of prick testing is that it does not require needles and therefore can be used for pediatric patients. The advantage of intradermal testing is that it may allow more specific determination of the level of allergy sensitivity. Our doctors offer all types of testing for allergy-related snoring and sleep apnea.
Allergies may be managed by a combination of allergen avoidance, medications and allergy immunotherapy. Medications include antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays, nasal antihistamine sprays, leukotriene inhibitors, decongestants and more. Immunotherapy can be accomplished with shots or oral drops.
Immunotherapy builds up blocking antibodies by repeated exposure to allergens, reducing your allergic response and possibly eliminating the allergies altogether. Through shots or oral drops, immunotherapy can improve or eliminate symptoms, as well as reduce or eliminate the need for medications. Allergy drops can save patients both time and money by eliminating the need for injections or frequent office visits.