Please be advised that our office will be closed on Friday, April 3rd, in observance of Good Friday. Normal business operations will resume on Monday, April, 6th.
Spring is here and in the Capital Region, it’s the most temperate and enjoyable time to experience life in the greater Austin area. That is, unless you’re suffering from ongoing respiratory issues.
It’s often hard to tell what the problem is around here, since pollen is a year-round feature. In the spring, tree pollens dominate, particularly the yellow dust coatings of oak pollen. Do you have hay fever or is sinusitis hanging on in chronic form?
Knowing the difference can help you take the steps you need to breathe easier, and at Austin ENT Associates in Round Rock, Texas, we want to help you recognize each condition so you can focus your home care.
Should your symptoms persist, our team is standing by with our ear, nose, and throat expertise.
You’ve been congested for a while now. If it was a cold, it would be over, but you’re still stuffy and your nose is feeling raw. Is it allergies? In this part of Texas, the air is always full of something to sneeze at, if you’re sensitive to the current allergens floating around.
Both allergies and sinusitis cause nasal congestion, postnasal drip, headaches, and fatigue that can slow down your ability to function. Sometimes, they’re hard to tell apart.
Mucus can often be the distinguishing point between allergies and sinusitis. When you’re responding to airborne allergens, your runny nose starts suddenly.
Mucus is thin and clear. Check your local weather to see if pollen counts have suddenly risen. If your car is covered with yellow oak pollen, that’s likely reason enough to pop an antihistamine to see if it reduces your symptoms.
Other signs it’s hay fever include:
If you suffer from spring allergies every year, take a look at the calendar. Sometimes, seasonal allergies are startlingly reliable, emerging on or around the same date every year in a particular location.
A respiratory infection leading to sinusitis produces thick mucus, often discolored green or yellow. This thicker mucus leads to feelings of fullness and pressure behind your eyes and nose that can even be painful.
Throat irritation tends to start near the beginning of your symptoms, though it may continue if you develop postnasal drip. Your sense of smell may be off compared to normal, and you could have persistent bad breath. Running a fever points toward sinusitis rather than allergies.
