Dr. Evan Coyne
So many spent the cold, extended winter fighting a cold – a nagging cough and persistently stuffy or running nose.
Those symptoms of an upper respiratory infection sent countless patients to their nearest emergency department seeking relief.
Now, with summer in full swing, the expectation is that cold season is over, taking its ever-lingering symptoms with it.
However, the McLaren Macomb emergency department is busy providing relief to patients for those same symptoms.
“It’s allergies,” said Dr. Evan Coyne, an emergency physician at McLaren Macomb. “These aren’t symptoms caused by a viral or bacterial infection, but rather by allergens in the air.”
Allergic rhinitis – more commonly known as hay fever – causes inflammation in the nose, occurring when the immune system overreacts to allergens, leading to a congested or runny nose, sneezing and even a persistent cough.
Congestion in the sinuses can drain down the throat. This postnasal drip can be the cause of a summer sore throat, adding to the confusion of an upper respiratory infection.
While it takes time to become fully relieved of the reaction’s effects, Dr. Coyne says that certain over-the-counter allergy medications (antihistamines and/or nasal spray) will help manage the symptoms.
If symptoms become severe, head to the nearest emergency department for treatment. At the McLaren Macomb emergency department, avoid the wait. Visit mclaren.org/macombER to check-in online for a treatment time that works for you.