The Connection Bridgewater-Somerville Edition Sept/Oct/Nov 2018

www.theconnectionsnj.com PAGE 30 908.397.7797 | 908.231.0808 PsychicGalleryNJ.com 990 Towne Plaza, Hwy 202 South Branchburg, NJ 08876 psychicgallerybranchburg Psychic Gallery 908-231-0808 Call for Appointments • Walk-ins Welcome Psychic Reader & Advisor Life Coach in all Matters Crystals • Tarot & Aura Card Readings Feed Your Spiritual Well-Being Find out how your past can influence present & future matters. Call me to help you - Some questions cannot be answered by Google! Call Today! Come in for your Fall Reading Expires 11/30/18 Book Now for Holiday Parties! # % %' (%& % ' ' #" % "& &* # # &' + ( '& " % '% & + &* '% &* # # ) ( ' #"& + &* #' % $* #("& " ' #" " ! "' + !! ' $$# "'! "'& % " $' " ' , ( ' , #! %) “Spot It” and send your answer with your name, town & phone number to: spotthefake@theconnectionsnj.com Subject Line: FAKE Somewhere in the magazine is a theconnectionsnj.com ALLERGIC RHINITIS By: Kristine Krol, M.D. Board Certified Allergist, Allercare Have you ever had a cold that just won’t go away? Has your child been put on antibiotics month after month for treatment of recurring ear infections? Have you suffered from many sinus infections every year? Do you know someone who does not smoke, yet has a chronic cough? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be sur- prised to find out that the underly- ing cause of each of these condi- tions could be allergies. What is an Allergy? To have an allergy means to be affected by something that is harmless to most people. The substance causing the allergic reaction is called an aller- gen. People can be allergic to all sorts of things, including pollens, molds, dust mites, animals, certain foods, insect stings or medications. It is generally accepted that the tendency to have allergies is linked to heredity. Rhinitis: The symptoms of rhinitis include inflammation inside the nose, sneezing, congestion, runny nose, nasal itching, burning palate and throat, and headaches. Rhinitis has many causes. Some people have allergic rhinitis, which is a term used to describe allergic reactions that take place when an airborne allergen is inhaled. This allergy was first called “hay fever” because it was thought to be caused by pollen from hayfields. But it is now known that pollen produced by any plant as well as many other allergens can cause allergic rhinitis. There are two types of allergic rhinitis: seasonal and perennial. Pollens from trees, grasses, or weeds are usually to blame for seasonal symptoms in spring and fall, whereas dust mites, mold, and pets are the usual trig- gers or year-round (perennial) aller- gic rhinitis. Some common complications of rhinitis include infected ears, fluid in the ears and infected sinuses. How does an allergy cause ear infections? When the nose is inflamed due to allergic rhinitis, it is common for the Eustachian tube and ear to become involved in that inflammation. The Eustachian tube can swell to the point of complete closure, trapping air in the middle of the ear cavity. Fluid then accu- mulates in the middle ear. This is called otitis media with effusion. If an infection-causing agent such as a virus or bacteria is trapped in the middle ear cavity, the result will be an infected middle ear, or otitis media. If a patient is desensitized to their allergies with allergy injections or sublingual immunotherapy (drops under the tongue) they will defi- nitely see a decrease in the number of ear/sinus infections. Dr. Krol is board-certified in Allergy and immunology with locations in New Jersey and New York. Somerville Location: 177 W. High Street Somerville, NJ 08876 (908) 725-8666 Bedminster Location: 2345 Lamington Road, Suite 107 Bedminster, NJ 07921 (908) 781-5550 Bridgewater Location: 215 Union Avenue, Suite C Bridgewater, NJ 08807 (908) 781-5550 See ad on page 72