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Managing allergies in Central Texas

Posted at 2:41 PM, Sep 20, 2017
and last updated 2018-11-03 15:19:58-04

Many in Central Texas are suffering from a common issue...allergies. Allergies are considered worse during the summer season in Central Texas.  

The doctors at a Scott & White Clinic in Killeen see an average of 30 people per day for allergies. 

 Runny nose, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes... all symptoms of allergies. 

"Allergies are considered worse during the <summer season in our area. Flowers will bloom, they will start to pollinate, the wind will blow, the sun will dry out that pollen... and especially with ragweed pollen it can actually travel for hundreds of miles," Dr. John Joseph II of the Scott & White Clinic - Killeen Main said.

But, if you suffer from allergies, you aren't alone. 

"About one quarter of the people in the United States suffer from ragweed allergy alone," Dr. Joseph added. 

For seasonal allergies, doctors can prescribe nasal sprays and steroids if necessary, but for severe cases... 
 
"We now know that people can cross react to various allergies during those times of the year, people that are allergic to ragweed can develop an allergy to certain foods such as cucumbers for example," Dr. Joseph said. 

Eryn Buchanan is one of those people... but not just for ragweed. 

"The outside allergies manifest through food," Eryn Buchanan who suffers from Oral Allergy Syndrome said. "Sometimes I can eat certain foods and sometimes I can't like if the cedar is high, if pollen's high."

So, Buchanan stays away from the foods she knows cause her mouth to burn and bumps to appear on her lips... pineapple, avocado, pecans and peanuts... 
 
"... and then they gave me the Epi-Pen, I guess mainly for the peanut allergy, because you could eat peanuts one time and it'll just burn my mouth, but the next time if I eat them it could just totally throw me into anaphylactic shoc," Buchanan added.  

"It could be life threatening. So, the Epi-Pen at times, could be a lifesaving measure for those individuals," Dr. Joseph added.

 Thankfully, Eryn Buchanan hasn't had to use her Epi-Pen yet. But, she said she's glad to have it just in case. 

Doctors may prescribe steroids or a nasal spray to help you fight your allergies. In the worst case, they may resort to shots.

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