PHX Reporter

• People who have spring allergies might start feeling their symptoms kicking in, as trees have begun to pollinate.

• Symptoms can include sneezing, itchy eyes, coughing, congestion and fatigue.

• People who need to undergo allergy testing or treatment have several options.     

Those who are suffering from allergies have several testing options, according to Dr. John Stewart of Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, ultimately depending on what works best for them.

"Allergies can be a constant struggle, especially out here in the Arizona desert and mountains,” Stewart told PHX Reporter. “We offer two types of testing here: blood tests known as RAST and a skin-scratch test. With the scratch test you get instant results, and a treatment plan can be coordinated immediately based on your individual test results."

According to the Blanchard Valley Health System, patients suffering from allergies could start to feel the impact of their allergies in February or March as trees begin to form pollen. As the pollen is spread by winds, it can irritate the skin, eyes, nose and mouth, engaging the allergy symptoms. The type of pollen differs from tree to tree, but allergists can determine whether pollen is from an oak, birch, walnut or any other tree and come up with individualized treatments.

Yale Medicine reported that some 50 million Americans suffer from allergies and their symptoms, and there are usually two options for testing. One is a skin-prick test, which includes the injection of a small amount of allergens under the skin, which will become irritated if the patient has an allergy, and results are available in a day or two. The second option is a blood test, which takes longer to produce results but allows the doctors to test for more allergens than the skin test.

According to Mayo Clinic, people who suffer from allergies can stay indoors on dry, windy days to avoid contact with pollen. They can track pollen counts, and when they come inside, they can shower to wash pollen from their skin.

Mayo Clinic also noted that patients suffering with allergies can use over-the-counter treatments -- such as oral decongestants, antihistamines and nasal sprays -- for relief from the symptoms. If issues persist, you can pursue one of the treatment options at Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.

To learn more about sinusitis or allergy symptoms, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.