NE Valley Times

• The 26th annual Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill will take place in Washington, D.C., on May 3.
• People with allergies and asthma will have the opportunity to meet with lawmakers.
• The event is free, but registration is required.

The Allergy & Asthma Network announced that those who suffer from allergies and asthma can take part in the 26th annual Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill event on May 3, where they can ask lawmakers to back health-related legislation, share their personal stories, and learn more about the latest health research and the impact that it may have on public health policy.

The schedule for attendees features an advocacy training session and breakfast, in-person advocacy meetings with members of Congress and their staff, and a lunch briefing with members of the Congressional Asthma & Allergy Caucus, for which allergists and federal agency representatives will also take part. While participation is free, attendants must still register.

Dr. Franklyn Gergits of Sinus & Allergy Wellness Center discussed how testing for allergies has become more advanced and has allowed patients to feel more comfortable.

"We perform testing now that is very straightforward and comfortable," Gergits told NE Valley Times. "I've been tested multiple times myself as an allergy sufferer and an asthmatic. I've been through the old-fashioned testing, and I prefer the new testing. It's just pressure and then a small drop of a specific allergen or a mix is introduced into the skin with pressure. They are small, little needles that you really can't feel. Once that testing panel has been placed on the arm, we wait a while, then we come back in and check to see what kind of reactions the patients have. That gives us the results that we need to allow patients to know what they're allergic to and initiate treatment."

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, over 50 million Americans experience allergies every year, with allergies being the sixth-most-common cause of chronic illness in the U.S. Allergic rhinitis, which is also known as hay fever, can be either seasonal or perennial, and symptoms include sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, watery eyes and an itchy nose, mouth or eyes.

MBG Health says that allergy symptoms, such as itchy eyes, can be attributed to inflammation, which is caused by the body working to protect itself from allergens. When someone is exposed to an allergen, their body's natural stress response is to secrete hormones like cortisol and chemicals like histamine, but research suggests that such secretions can lead to inflammation, which can potentially make both allergy symptoms and asthma worse.

If you're interested in learning more about sinus and allergy symptoms, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.