Itchy eyes. Sinus pressure. Coughing and sneezing... Many people take antihistamines to get through an allergy episode, and that can be totally OK. But what about if you have to take them everyday? Are there potential long term side effects?

Today's guest, Dr. Chris Thompson, is a Board Certified Otolaryngologist, Head & Neck Surgeon with over 25 years of experience practicing medicine in Texas. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A & M University in College Station and went on to receive his Doctorate of Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Thompson completed his residency with the Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.Dr. Thompson focuses solely on allergy, sinus and nasal treatment and is considered an expert in all three fields. He is one of a handful of doctors that played an integral role in the development of the cutting-edge sinus procedure, Balloon Sinuplasty. Dr. Thompson is also experienced with nasal reconstructive procedures and rhinoplasty. He is very excited for the future of allergy treatment through sublingual immunotherapy, as more patients choose and stay consistent with the treatment.

He is also a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Texas Medical Association, and Travis County Medical Society.

Join us as Dr. Thompson discusses all things relating to allergies, the side effects of long-term use of antihistamines, and other options that people can use or try to get off of those meds such as immunotherapy.

Have you used antihistamines to calm down a severe allergic response? Have they helped, but you're ready to try something new? Let me know in the comments if you have questions!

In this episode:

• Are antihistamines appropriate for daily use?
• Different types of antihistamines (what do they do?)
• How eczema, food allergies + asthma are related
• Antihistamines crossing the blood-brain barrier (YIKES)
• Non-pharmaceutical options to consider (and discuss with your doctor)
• Treatment options for different types of specific allergies

Quotes

“There are some studies that link long-term antihistamine use with things like dementia. There was one I read recently that showed an increase in glial tumors, which are typically brain tumors... There are links to depression. There are links to weight gain with these and all, but one of the antihistamines over-the-counter can cross the blood-brain barrier." [4:16]

“One of the most surprising facts about allergy is that only 2% of the population of allergy patients seek allergy care. Imagine, if 3% of cancer patients or 2% of sleep apnea patients sought and received proper care for their medical ailment? It would just be unfathomable, but yet in the allergy world, again, we're not talking about a life threatening problem in most cases, but it really does get sidelined and poo-pooed by a lot of doctors." [25:20]

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