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Allergy Headache

You may be able to control your allergy headaches with over-the-counter drugstore remedies, but these medicines have side effects and only provide you with temporary relief. Instead, call a headache specialist at Neuro Injury Specialists. Dr. Mark Cohen is a leading expert in the field and once he diagnoses your allergy triggers — or determines you don’t have allergy headaches — you can begin allergy headache treatment designed specifically for your needs. Call today for the best allergy headache treatment in New York and New Jersey.

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    What Are Allergy Headaches?

    Allergy HeadacheA headache due to allergies is typically triggered by food or environmental factors. Your pain can range from mild to debilitating, from occasional to constant. Sometimes over-the-counter meds let you get on with your day. Other times the headaches stop you in your tracks for hours or weeks.

    Half the people in this country experience headaches  at least once a month. Chronic headaches  tend to occur more often between the ages of 10 and 40. Many different types exist, often identified as primary headaches  or secondary headaches.  In most cases, diagnostic testing  is used to discover if your recurring pain is triggered by allergies. The best allergy headache treatment is then determined by your individual symptoms and conditions.

    If you suffer from persistent headaches, consult a pain management neurologist like Dr. Mark Cohen  at Neuro Injury Specialists.  Based in the New York City area, Dr. Cohen is trained in the latest diagnostic tools to determine the best allergy headache treatments  for you.

    How Do I Know If I Have an Allergy Headache?

    If you have a headache due to allergies, the pain is typically accompanied by a variety of symptoms.

    It’s vital that you seek the advice of a headache specialist, however, because the signs often resemble symptoms of a common cold or flu virus, and may include:

    • Stuffy nose
    • Runny nose
    • Sneezing
    • Itchy throat
    • Watery or itchy eyes
    • Sinus pressure

    Typically, when you have an allergic reaction, it brings on symptoms in the throat, head, stomach or skin. Sometimes this issue also triggers breathing problems for people with asthma. Provide your doctor with a detailed description of the circumstances around your pain. This gives him valuable clues to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.

    Sometimes, your pain is due to other headache types,  such as migraines,  sinus or tension.  If you suffer from two or more headaches every week, or if your headache worsens over time, that’s one of the clearest clues you should seek treatment from a headache specialist.

    Allergy Headache Treatment in Brooklyn

    What Are the Causes of an Allergy Headache?

    Usually, the cause of an allergy headache is traced to either food or the factors in the environment. The most common environmental triggers are everywhere. Sometimes, you realize you have allergies when you’re young, but some allergies don’t surface until later in adulthood.

    Environmental triggers may include:

    • Hay fever
    • Pollen and ragweed
    • Latex
    • Animal dander
    • Dust mites
    • Mildew and mold
    • Medications

    Another category of headache triggers is food. While you may not go into shock when you eat or drink various substances, they still can cause a reaction in the form of an allergy headache.

    The most common foods that cause headaches include:

    • Alcohol
    • Caffeine
    • Chocolate
    • Aged cheese
    • Artificial sweeteners

    Sometimes your allergy headache is triggered by more than one factor. Determining what causes your pain may take time and patience. Your NYC headache specialist helps you find the culprit so you can reduce or eliminate the trigger in the future.

    What Can I Do to Eliminate My Allergy Headaches?

    Once your doctor has determined the baddie that brings on your headaches, he recommends steps you can take to win the battle with this specific allergen.

    Lifestyle changes that may reduce the severity and frequency of your allergic reactions may include:

    • Installing an air purifier
    • Upgrading the filter on your furnace or air conditioner
    • Lowering the humidity levels in your home
    • Keeping pets out of your bedroom or re-homing them
    • Consulting a mold remediation professional to inspect your home
    • Investing in a good mattress cover and pillow cover
    • Staying indoors during high pollen days whenever possible
    • Showering after being around trees, fields and gardens for extended periods

    The best advice is to avoid triggers as much as possible. Once your headache doctor has diagnosed the cause of your headache, he recommends a course of action. This customized treatment plan is designed to reduce or eliminate the problem with combined efforts in lifestyle changes and specific allergy headache treatment.

    What’s the Best Allergy Headache Treatment?

    Your doctor may advise you to manage allergy headaches with one or more remedies at home.

    In addition to eliminating triggers to prevent an allergy headache, other steps you can take at home may include therapies such as:

    • Rinsing nasal cavities with saline solution
    • Breathing moist, hot air
    • Applying hot packs to your face
    • Drinking plenty of water daily
    • Taking over-the-counter allergy tablets or sprays as directed by your doctor

    While these remedies provide relief, they can also be problematic. You may not tolerate some treatments or medications. Antihistamines often cause drowsiness.

    Your headache specialist may recommend a reliable and lasting remedy such as:

    If you live in the New York City or New Jersey area, contact the professionals at Neuro Injury Specialists. Dr. Cohen is trained in the latest diagnostic tools and allergy headache treatments. He helps you find a way back to your pain free life.