Allergy & Sinus

An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from allergies – making it one of the most common conditions. Allergies occur when the immune system reacts strongly to a substance it encounters either through breathing, eating or touch.

Inhalant allergies, or allergies caused by something you breathe, can be either seasonal or perennial. Seasonal allergies occur at the same time every year. Potential seasonal allergens include trees, grasses, and weeds. A perennial allergy is always present, and include molds, dust mites, and house pets.

Allergy & Sinus Infection

Common symptoms of inhalant allergies include:

• nasal congestion
• runny nose
• post-nasal drip
• itchy nose
• itchy eyes
• tearing

All of these symptoms can be caused by an allergic inflammation of the nose, called allergic rhinitis. When sinuses (the cavities next to the nasal cavity) become inflamed or infected, it is called sinusitis. Congestion, green or yellow discharge, pressure in the forehead, around the eyes or in the checks, headaches, and fever can all indicate a sinus infection.

At Boston ENT we continue to pursue the latest technology and advancements in medical science to help our patients alleviate the symptoms and challenges of allergic disease. Many patients are able to control allergy symptoms through a variety of classes of medications including nasal steroids, decongestants, antihistamines, anticholinergics, leukotiene inhibitors, and mast-cell stabilizers. But a variety of medical therapies including Turbinate Coblation, Balloon Sinuplasty, sublingual therapy (drops placed under the tongue) and stents are incredibly effective and limit the use of medications.

The most common cause of chronic stuffy nose is enlarged turbinates. Turbinates are small, bony structures located in the nasal airway covered with mucous membranes. Allergies or other conditions can cause irritation, inflammation, and enlargement of turbinates, resulting in the blocked nasal airway we know as “stuffy nose”.

Coblation-Assisted Turbinate Reduction is a medical innovation that provides effective, fast, and continued relief of chronic stuffy nose by both removing and shrinking soft tissue inside the turbinates.

This revolutionary treatment:

• Offers immediate and continued results
• Approximately 50% reduction in nasal blockage within one week of treatment
• Patients report sustained relief at 3, 6 and 12 months following treatment
• Is performed in the comfort of your doctor’s office, under local anesthesia
• Takes as little as ten minutes
• Is virtually painless and has a low incidence of side-effects

How Coblation Works

Coblation is a quick outpatient procedure that takes less than 10 minutes to quickly and effectively remove and shrink soft tissue inside the enlarged turbinates. Patients typically return home shortly after the procedure, and can experience a 50% reduction in nasal obstruction within one week.

After the initial healing, you should experience a notable improvement in your stuffy nose. As the turbinates continue to shrink over time, your ability to breathe will improve. Turbinate size can vary among patients. As such, it may be necessary to repeat the Coblation procedure to achieve maximum results.

Balloon Sinuplasty is a simple procedure that provides lasting relief to chronic sinusitis patients. Balloon Sinuplasty can be done in our office and is safe & less invasive than surgery and proven effective with fast recovery.

How is Balloon Sinuplasty Safe & Less Invasive?

With Balloon Sinuplasty, there is no cutting of nasal bone or tissue. More than 380,000 patients suffering from chronic sinusitis symptoms have been treated by ear, nose and throat doctors using Balloon Sinuplasty.

How do patients feel after Balloon Sinuplasty?

In a study tracking patients 2 years following their Balloon Sinuplasty Sinus Surgery in the OR, most chronic sinusitis patients report clinically meaningful improvement in sinus symptoms and quality of life.

How long does recovery take after Balloon Sinuplasty?

While recovery time varies with each patient, recovery is typically fast. In a study of in-office balloon dilation, most patients returned to work and normal activity within 2 days.

• Can be conducted comfortably without general anesthesia, meaning that food and drink are typically permitted prior to the procedure.
• Comfortable, familiar environment.
• Limited downtime, as most procedures last less than 60 minutes4 and most people return to their normal activities within 2 days.
• Some eligible patients may have lower out-of- pocket costs if the procedure is performed in a doctor’s office.

ENT Allergists can test for and treat a number of environmental allergies, providing relief from seasonal allergies as well as allergies to things such as pets, mold and dust. Allergies are diagnosed via skin test, blood test (RAST) or both. After testing, your allergist will help you decide the best course of treatment for your lifestyle by deciding between two options:

If you’re looking for allergy treaments that do not require shots, then Sublingual Immunotherapy – also known as SLIT – is the perfect solution! This procedure is a self-administered therapy that only requires placing drops under your tongue every day, and can be done at home.

Besides the avoidance of painful shots, SLIT makes it easy for those who are unable to regularly schedule appointments at a doctors office, such as college students and those who travel frequently.

Several large research studies have compared the efficacy of SLIT to traditional allergy shots and found them both to be equally effective over time.

Allergy shots are given weekly in the office until a patient builds an immunity to their allergen.