By Dr. Ian Wahl
With the start of school, so starts the season for colds.
Do you have children? Are you a teacher? Can you tell the difference between whether you or a child has a cold or an allergy?
The symptoms of sinus allergies are very similar to cold symptoms – runny nose, watery eyes, cough, nasal congestion, sneezing – and it can be tough to tell the difference.
But there are ten telltale signs that point to whether a person has an allergy not a cold.
Just ask yourself the following 10 questions:
- Does it seem like you or your child always has a cold? Colds usually wind down in no more than a week to 10 days at the most; allergies don’t.
- Is their nose continually stuffy or runny?
- Is he constantly wiggling, wiping, or pushing his nose up with his fingers or hand in what doctors call the allergic salute?
- Is the mucus that drains from her nose clear and thin (as opposed to yellow or greenish and thick)?
- Does he seem to sneeze a lot?
- Are her eyes itchy, red, and watery?
- Does the skin under his eyes look dark or purplish or blue (what allergy doctors call allergic shiners)?
- Does she breathe through her mouth?
- Does he have a persistent dry cough?
- Is her skin irritated or broken out in an itchy or red rash?
Guess what? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, there’s a good chance that person is allergic to something in their environment.
Keep in mind, that people with nasal allergies are also more prone to ear infections, asthma, and sinus infections.
Do you want to know what you or a child is reacting to in your house, school, workplace, or outdoor environment? On the one hand, you can make an appointment to see a traditional allergist for painful scratch tests and blood tests. You can then treat the allergies or sensitivities that are discovered from those tests with shots, medications and/or avoidance of the allergens (if avoidance is even possible). That approach only provides short-term relief at best and risks medication side effects. On the other hand, you can seek out a doctor trained in AAT, Advanced Allergy Therapeutics. AAT is a proven therapy that helps relieve those annoying allergic symptoms without the use of shots or drugs. It provides a painless, non-invasive holistic approach to allergy testing and treatments. There are no needles, no pain, no pills, no avoidance. Just results. It is safe, effective, and gentle enough for infants and seniors.
For more information on Advanced Allergy Therapeutics or to find an AAT certified doctor, please call 314-384-9304 or visit www.StLouisAllergyRelief.com and read about AAT therapy and testimonials. That call could change your life or the life of a loved one. You can also attend Dr. Ian Wahl’s free presentation and discussion of AAT on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Call 314-384-9304 to verify the date and reserve your seat.