Sinus, Allergy and Asthma Center Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C.

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Sinus, Allergy and Asthma Center

What are Sinuses?
Sinuses are hollow air chambers in the face. They produce mucus, which cleans particles out of the air we breathe. There are four sinuses:

Frontal sinuses: above the eyes in the brow area
Ethmoid sinuses: between the eyes behind the bridge of the nose
Sphenoid sinuses: behind the ethmoids in the upper region of the nose and behind the eyes
Maxillary sinuses: inside the cheekbone

What is Sinusitis?
Sinusitis is the inflammation of the lining (sinus membranes) of the sinuses. It affects nearly 37 million Americans every year. The main symptoms include:

Headache
Pain and pressure around the eyes, cheeks and forehead
Nasal congestion or blockage
Facial swelling
Yellow or green discharge
Low-grade fever
Cough

What causes Sinusitis?
Most sinus infections usually begin with a cold. The swelling and congestion may block the sinus openings, decreasing drainage ability, and allowing an infection to develop. Patients who repeatedly get sinus infections may have a pre-existing condition to blame, such as a deviated septum, nasal polyps or allergies.

Sinus Headaches
Sinus Headaches are associated with pain around the eyes, cheeks and forehead. The pain may worsen as you bend forward or make sudden head movements. A sinus headache may be accompanied by other symptoms including:

What causes Sinus Headaches?

What treatment options are available for Sinus Headaches?
Decongestants, antihistamines and steroid sprays are common treatment options in addition to pain relievers. If infection is present, a round of antibiotics may be required.

What are allergies?
An allergy is an abnormal reaction by the immune system to a substance that is usually not harmful. The immune system protects the body from foreign substances (antigens) by producing antibodies to fight them. Normally, the immune system ignores harmless substances and fights only dangerous ones. A person develops an allergic reaction when the immune system mistakenly interprets a harmless substance as a harmful one and attacks the harmless substance with histamine. Histamine produces the bothersome symptoms associated with allergies. It is estimated that about 24 million Americans suffer from allergies.

What causes allergies to develop in the first place?
No one knows for sure what causes allergies to develop, but heredity may play a part. If both parents have allergies, their child is more likely to develop allergies than a child of one allergic parent. However, that child's allergies may not be to the same allergen as the parents. During your life, your allergies may flare up, subside and even go away all together.

What triggers allergies?
The most common substances that trigger allergies are:

What are the symptoms of allergies?
Symptoms of pollen, mold, dander and dust mite (respiratory) allergies include:

Symptoms of insect sting/bite allergies include:

Symptoms of latex allergies include:

What are common food allergies and symptoms?
Food allergies are most commonly attributed to milk, fish, shellfish, nuts, eggs, wheat and berries. Allergic reactions to these items can occur within just minutes of consumption.

Symptoms of food allergies include:

How are food allergies diagnosed?
To get an accurate diagnosis, the allergist must first determine if the allergic reaction is to a specific food. This determination can be made through a detailed patient history, a patient's "diet diary" or an elimination diet. A diet diary involves the patient keeping a record of each meal and whether or not a reaction occurred. An elimination diet involves the patient not consuming a food suspected of causing the allergy. If the food is removed, and the symptoms cease, that food is most likely the cause of the allergic reaction.

Once a specific allergy is suspected, either a skin test or lab work can be performed to confirm what substance is causing the reaction. Many of these tests can be done right in an allergist's office. Once the test is performed, the patient will wait for about 20 minutes to see what reactions they may have. The size of each reaction is then measured. These tests are easy to perform and cause very little discomfort.

What treatment options are available for food allergies?
Avoiding the allergy-causing food is the best treatment. However, once exposed, antihistamines or steroids are commonly used. In life-threatening allergic reactions (known as anaphylactic shock), an injection of epinephrine can help reverse symptoms.

What are common drug allergies and symptoms?
Medication allergies are most commonly caused by penicillin or aspirin. The symptoms, which can vary from mild to life-threatening, include skin rash, hives, congestion, itchy eyes, and swelling in the mouth and throat.

What treatment options are available for drug allergies?
Similar to food allergies, avoiding the allergy-causing medication is the best treatment. However, once exposed, antihistamines or steroids are commonly used. Drugs called bronchodilators may be used to combat coughing and congestion. And for life-threatening allergic reactions (known as anaphylactic shock), an injection of epinephrine can help reverse symptoms.

What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways in the lungs. In someone with asthma, the walls of the airways are swollen and inflamed. This inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they may react to things that they find irritating. As the symptoms worsen, it becomes an asthma attack.

What is an asthma attack?
An asthma attack is caused by the tightening of muscles around the airways in the lungs. These airways become even more irritated and swollen than usual and the cells in these airways begin producing thicker mucus. This inflammation and extra mucus reduces the amount of air that a person can breathe in and out. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that vital organs can't get as much oxygen as they need.

What are the symptoms of an attack?

Symptoms can vary in their severity. One time the symptoms may be very mild and the next time they may be so serious they become life threatening.

What causes asthma attacks?
Asthma attacks can be caused by a variety of irritants such as smoke, pet dander, pollen, mold, cleaning products, dust mites, exercise, air pollution and weather. Our allergy and asthma physician can help you identify your asthma triggers and help patients reduce their symptoms and attacks.

Who gets asthma?
If you suffer from asthma, you're not alone! More than 30 million Americans have been diagnosed with it. It affects people of all ages and usually appears in childhood. It is more common in boys than in girls, but more adult women have it that adult men. Although there's no way to predict who will develop asthma, there are some factors that may increase your chances:

Heredity - if people in your family have asthma, hay fever (allergic rhinitis), or eczema, there is a higher chance you will have asthma.
Age - as the most common chronic disease in children, asthma is more common in children (under the age of 18) than in adults.
Smoking - Adult asthma is more likely in smokers than in non-smokers and second-hand smoke can increase the risk in children.
Living in an urban area - Pollution and smog are factors in asthma attacks.

What treatment options are available?
Although asthma cannot be cured, it can be controlled with medication. There are two types of asthma medications: quick-relief and long-term control.

Quick-relief medication is taken at the first signs of asthma symptoms. You will feel the effects of these medicines within minutes.
Long-term control medicines are taken daily to prevent symptoms and attacks. The full effect of these medicines may not be felt for a few weeks.

To schedule an appointment with Atlanta ENT, Sinus and Allergy Associates, please call 404-255-2918 for the Sandy Springs office, 770-425-7199 for the Marietta office and 678-904-4390 for the North Druid Hills office. To contact the Tritt Breathe and Sleep Center, please call 404-257-0039. Click here to visit the Tritt Breathe and Sleep Center website.

What are Sinuses? Sinuses are hollow air chambers in the face. They produce mucus, which cleans particles out of the air we breathe. There are four sinuses:

What is Sinusitis? Sinusitis is the inflammation of the lining (sinus membranes) of the sinuses. It affects nearly 37 million Americans every year. The main symptoms include:

Sinus Headaches Sinus Headaches are associated with pain around the eyes, cheeks and forehead. The pain may worsen as you bend forward or make sudden head movements. A sinus headache may be accompanied by other symptoms including: