Stephen
Chandler, MD
WHAT’S WITH
ALL THE SNEEZING?
The medical term is allergic rhinitis.
But many of us know this sometimes-
miserable condition as hay fever.
Its symptoms are set into motion by
an allergic reaction—not to hay, but
often to pollen from trees, grasses and
weeds. Sometimes the allergies are
linked to mold, pets, cockroaches or
dust mites.
HEY, DO YOU
HAVE HAY FEVER?
Allergic rhinitis may not be life-
threatening, but it can be life-disrupting.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, more than
11 million Americans visit a doctor each
year with symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
If pollen is causing your allergies,
symptoms may be worse in spring and
fall. (That’s seasonal allergic rhinitis or
hay fever.)
Allergies to pets, mold and dust can
cause problems year-round (perennial
allergic rhinitis).
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Your doctor can help pinpoint what
you’re allergic to and devise a treatment
plan, which may have several parts:
• Getting allergy shots (immunotherapy).
• Using medications, such as nasal
sprays, eye drops or antihistamines.
• Avoiding allergy triggers. For ex-
ample, you might try closing your
windows at night to keep out pollen
and mold. Your doctor might advise
you not to mow the lawn or at least
to wear a pollen mask when doing so.
Sources: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma &
Immunology; American College of Allergy, Asthma &
Immunology
How much do
you know about
allergies? Take
a quick quiz to
find out! Go to
Sometimes the inside anatomy of the
nose needs to be repaired too.
• Image-guided surgery
, which involves
a multidimensional mapping system,
CT scans and infrared signals to guide
surgeons through the sinus passages.
The signals and scans help surgeons
know exactly where to fix the sinus
passages.
• Balloon catheter sinuplasty
, a mini-
mally invasive technique that uses a
soft, flexible wire threaded through
the nose to reach the sinuses. A small
balloon that follows the wire is then
gradually inflated to gently reshape the
blocked areas.
Used alone, sinuplasty doesn’t require
cutting, so it preserves the original nasal
tissue. But depending on the location,
extent and cause of sinus problems, doc-
tors may use a hybrid approach, combin-
ing sinuplasty with other sinus surgery
techniques for the best results.
“The procedure is an extension of
general rhinology surgery, a refinement
of a technique that’s
been utilized for
several years,” said
Dr. Chandler. “I began
doing the procedures
about three years
after they were ap-
proved and have been
doing them now for
almost eight years. It’s
a good procedure.”
What’s the prognosis?
Robertson was able to return to work
within two days postsurgery. While that
is faster than usual, patients typically
return to their regular activity within a
few days after sinus surgery, reported the
American Rhinologic Society.
According to the National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, most
people have fewer symptoms and bet-
ter quality of life after sinus surgery,
although surgery may not completely
eliminate sinusitis.
As with any surgery, there are risks
involved with sinus surgery. Your doctor
will consider many factors before recom-
mending surgery, including your medical
history and nasal anatomy.
