The best-known allergy symptoms, especially kids allergies, include sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny or stuffed-up nose.  But there are also some lesser-known (but no less insidious) symptoms that have their root in allergy.  These include eczema, asthma, hives, sinus infections, headaches and – as Gary Sweetnam discovered – chronic cough.

Sweetnam developed a raspy, rattling cough in young adulthood that lasted 40 years.  It interfered with his (and his wife’s) sleep, caused a stir in quiet places like church and made Sweetnam’s co-worker in the plumbing profession feel uncomfortable.

“They would hear me coughing and ask, ‘Are you getting sick?’ or ‘Are you going to the doctor for that?’” said Sweetnam.

In fact, Sweetnam had been to numerous allergist for his constant coughing.  A couple physicians suspected asbestos poisoning, but the tests proved negative.  Others prescribed various medications, but nothing ever helped.

“I really did not think that you could do anything for it,” said Sweetnam.

So Sweetnam lived with his chronic cough until 2006 when he decided to try one more option – allergy treatment at the Family Allergy Clinic in Mesa, Arizona.  No one had ever linked the cough to an allergy problem, but after several weeks of allergy treatment, his old curse simply went away. Three years later, Sweetnam remains free of the coughing problem that dogged him for so long.

According to the allergy doctorr of the Family Allergy Clinic, Dr. Stuart Agren, allergy is often the culprit behind coughing.  Allergies create post-nasal drip that irritates the tissues of the throat and airways, stirring up hard-to-control coughing.

Dr. Agren said that one of the best treatments for an allergy-related cough is known as immunotherapy.  With immunotherapy, the body receives gradually increasing doses of an allergy serum that teaches the immune system  to “make friends” with the dusts, molds, and pollens that usually elicit allergic reactions.
Immunotherapy can be administered through shots or through oral drops that absorb under the tongue.  Dr. Agren said most patients prefer the oral drops because they’re easy to administer and can be taken in the patient’s home.

According to Dr. Agren, the vast majority of his patients achieve lasting symptom relief in three months or less with allergy immunotherapy and enjoy pain-free relief without allergy shots.

Call 1-877-2SNEEZE (276-3393) for more information.