Allergies to pollen, dust mites, and animal dander in the nose and nasal passages are also called allergic rhinitis. Hay fever is another word often used for this problem. Symptoms are usually a watery, runny nose and itching in your nose. Allergies can also bother your eyes.
Below are some questions you may want to ask your doctor or nurse to help you take care of your allergies.
What am I allergic to?
Do I need allergy tests?
What sort of changes should I make around my home?
How do I find out when smog or pollution is worse in my area?
Am I taking my allergy medicines the right way?
Do I need allergy shots?
What vaccinations do I need?
What sort of changes do I need to make at work?
What exercises are better for me to do? Are there times when I should avoid exercising outside? Are there things that I can do for my allergies before I start exercising?
What should I do when I know I'm going to be around something that makes my allergies worse?
What to ask your doctor about allergic rhinitis - adult; Hay fever - what to ask your doctor - adult; Allergies - what to ask your doctor - adult; Allergic conjunctivitis - what to ask your doctor
Lund, VJ, Baroody FM, Naclerio RM. PART 4: Sinus, rhinology, and allergy/immunology. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2010:chap 40.
Orban NT, Saleh H, Durham SR. Allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. In: Adkinson F, Busse W, Bochner B, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice, 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2008:chap 55.
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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