Now that fall is underway, many people with seasonal allergies are looking forward to relief from their allergy symptoms during the pollen-less cooler months. However, allergies can have long-term effects on your ear, nose and throat system, even after the pollen clears up.
The Cyclical Effect
An allergic reaction occurs when a substance contacts your body, and your immune system mounts a response to handle it. Inflammation in the nasal linings and excess mucus trap and flush out the substance, and once it’s gone, the reaction usually subsides.
The thing about seasonal allergies, though, is that they’re recurrent; repeated cycles of inflammation and increased mucus production will have their own cumulative effects on the ear, nose and throat structures. Recurring inflammation can narrow sinus cavities and crowd other facial structures, and excess mucus can build up and trap bacteria.
Here are some other conditions that may result from these chronic issues.
Chronic Sinusitis
Inflammation in the nose leads to congestion—nasal passages being swollen shut, blocking drainage—and mucus buildup. Inflammation traps mucus in your sinuses, creating a breeding ground for bacteria that can lead to recurring or persistent sinus infections (lasting 12 weeks or more).
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and Ear Infections
Allergies are strongly associated with the respiratory system, so the connection to your ears may not be immediately obvious. However, they can lead to recurring ear infections. The nose is connected to the ears via the Eustachian tubes, and swollen nasal passageways can block these small tubes, preventing them from draining fluid from the ear. This is called Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD).
The Eustachian tubes are the primary way fluid drains from the ear, so with ETD, that fluid builds up. As with sinusitis, trapped mucus in the ear creates a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause a middle ear infection or eardrum perforation.
Throat Irritation
Your nose is also directly connected to your throat. Often, mucus flushes down the throat and into the stomach, where stomach acid neutralizes any germs trapped in the mucus. If there’s an excess of mucus (as happens with allergies) or if it’s thicker than normal (as happens with sinusitis), it may get stuck in the throat and irritate the throat lining, leading to a sore throat and chronic cough.
Disordered Breathing at Night
Chronic nasal obstruction forces mouth breathing during the night, which can contribute to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Additionally, the chemicals released by the immune system during an allergic reaction are associated with the sleep-wake cycle and can affect sleep quality.
When to Seek Help
If you’re experiencing any chronic ENT conditions, you should seek help from an otolaryngologist or ENT specialist. Chronic conditions usually indicate there is a deeper underlying issue that is currently unaddressed; we can use diagnostic testing to determine the root cause and help you get the relief you need. Call us at South Valley Ear Nose & Throat – West Jordan to learn more.