1760 McCulloch Blvd N Ste 100

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Sinus & Allergy

Sinus and Allergy Services

Great Customer Service

Using the Latest Techniques

Facetime Appointments Available

Great Customer Service

Using the Latest Techniques

Facetime Appointments Available

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Providing the Most Advanced Level of Treatment

Arizona Coast Ear Nose & Throat provides among the region’s most advanced and highest standard of medical and surgical treatment for allergies, asthma, sinus problems and related conditions. All of our providers are dedicated to employing evidence-based medicine, education and patient-centered care to help patients of all ages breathe easier and feel better. To schedule an appointment, call (928) 319-2006.

Allergy and Sinus Treatment

Our board-certified otolaryngologist include Dr. Devin M. Cunning, FACS.


Services include allergy relief therapy, allergy desensitization and allergy shots.


We also provide general sinus and nasal treatment including treatment for snoring, correction of cosmetic and functional nasal concerns such as deviated septum repair, treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis and leading-edge care for serious problems such as tumors and cerebrospinal fluid leaks.

Conditions, Diagnostics and Treatments/Procedures

Conditions*

  • Allergic Rhinitis
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Asthma
  • Deviated Septum
  • Non-Allergic Rhinitis
  • Sinusitis
  • Food Allergies

Diagnostics*

  • Allergy skin testing
  • RAST testing
  • Rhinoscopy
  • Spirometry

Treatments/Procedures*

  • Balloon sinuplasty
  • Chemical cautery
  • Immunotherapy (allergy shots)
  • Pharmacotherapy (medication)
  • Sublingual Immunotherapy (allergy drops)
  • Image Guided Sinus Surgery
  • Turbinoplasty
  • VivAer
  • RhinAer

*This is a representative list of the many conditions treated and services provided. If you do not see what you are looking for or you have questions about a particular disease or disorder, please contact one of our offices.

Call to Schedule Appointment

Board-Certified Personnel

Locally Owned and Operated Since 2000

(928) 319-2006

(928) 319-2006

"Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Allergy shot program is awesome."

- Richard Hobday, Google Review

Allergies Testing

Preparing for Your Allergy Test

Our allergy specialists use a range of testing to help pinpoint exactly what you might be allergic to so that precise treatment can be determined. Two of the most commonly used methods are skin testing and blood testing.


Skin Testing

Skin testing works by exposing the skin to suspected allergens and then observing the skin to see if there is a reaction. Your doctor may use a type of skin testing known as a skin prick test, which can check for many different types of allergens – such as pollen, mold and pet dander – at once. These tests are not painful and only use needles that barely penetrate the skin’s surface. In certain situations, skin testing may not be right for you, in which case your doctor may use RAST resting instead.


RAST Testing

Radioallergosorbent testing, or RAST, is a blood test that looks for specific allergen-related antibodies in your blood in order to identify your specific allergy triggers.

Allergy Department

The Allergy Department at Arizona Coast Ear, Nose, Throat, Allergy & Sleep Medicine is a team consisting of professional allergy technicians, Krissi Adams and Toni Forgey Schmitt who work with and under the guidance of Dr. Devin M. Cunning.


Krissi Adams is a Certified Allied Health Member of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy. Her training has included attending Annual meetings in San Diego in addition to completing both the Basic and Advanced courses in Otolaryngic Allergy and Immunology which she attended in Vail, Colorado. To further her knowledge in allergy and immunology, Krissi attended the 2011 WSAAI conference in Maui, Hawaii. She has also received clinical training in Tucson, Arizona and in Lake Havasu City under the guidance of Dr. Cunning.


Krissi Adams joined Arizona Coast Ear, Nose, Throat, Allergy & Sleep Medicine in August of 2005 as the first allergy technician in the newly formed allergy department. She was born in New York City and moved to Lake Havasu City in July of 1980. She is the proud mother of three children, a son, and twin daughters.

Allergy FAQs

Is there one particular season that’s worse for sneezing?
Not really. In spring, trees and flowers pollinate sending millions of pollen grains into the air. Summertime is the grass and weed pollen season. And, in fall, those with allergies may react to both ragweed and mold. Winter signals the onset of the indoor allergy season. The most common indoor nasal allergens are dust mite and cockroach droppings, mold, and animal dander.


Why do you feel better on some days rather than others?
There is a reason for that. Weather conditions make a difference in the amount of pollen and mold spores that are airborne at any one time. On those hot, dry, windy days of summer, pollen and mold particles are plentiful, meaning allergy sufferers suffer more. If you’re an allergy sufferer, you’ll probably feel better on rainy, cloudy, still days when pollen does not move around as much.


Do you know what plants, trees grasses, and weeds to watch out for?
Unfortunately, there are thousands of things that produce airborne allergies. Pollens can travel 2 miles high and as far as 300 miles, but some pollens are more easily carried off in the air than others.


What is the pollen count?
If you are an avid watcher of the Weather Channel, you could be checking the pollen count. A pollen count measures the number of pollen grains per cubic meter of air collected during a specific time period. A pollen count reported today, however, is an estimate based upon the pollen in the air yesterday. Pollen counts are generally higher on hot, sunny days. The higher the pollen count, the worse a seasonal allergy sufferer will feel.


Did you know there is a fungus among us?
There is and it’s called mold. Molds, plants in the fungus family, grow anywhere it’s dark and moist. That can mean on rotting logs, in piles of fallen leaves or compost piles, and on certain grasses, weeds, and grains. They even grow inside your home.  An- don’t look now- mold loves shower stalls, refrigerators, houseplants, air conditioners, garbage cans, and mattresses.


What are dust mites?
OK. So you don’t see any bugs crawling around on your covers, but they’re there! Dust mites are microscopic insects that live in house dust, under mattresses, and deep down in carpeting. They feed on dead human skin scales and inhaling their waste products is what causes an allergic reaction.


What about my pet?
You love your dog or cat like they’re part of the family, but your pets could be making you sick. Animals with hair or feathers are a common source of allergic reactions. What causes the problem is animal dander (tiny particles animals shed), the saliva on fur he’s licked and shed, and his urine after it dries and particles become airborne. Allergies to animals could take 2 years, or even longer, to develop and may not end until 6 or more months after your pet has moved on to greener pastures.


What’s in the air and how can I avoid it?
The best way to prevent an allergy attack is to stay away from the substance that triggers a reaction. But you can’t really eliminate pollen and other airborne allergens from your life altogether. Do what you can to avoid the things that make your allergies flare, take your allergy medication and help your doctor monitor you condition by visiting his office regularly.

Allergy Myths

Dispelling Myths About Nasal Allergies
Nasal allergies can sometimes be hard to understand, and even harder to explain. For this reason, you may have heard several myths about nasal allergies. Understanding the facts about nasal allergies will help you to better understand and take care of your symptoms.


Myth #1, Hay Fever is really caused by hay.
Nasal allergies are often referred to as hay fever, even though they may have nothing to do with hay. Also, they do not cause a fever. This myth most likely started because allergy season begins during hay harvesting season in many areas.


Myth #2, Moving is a good way to cure allergies.
You may think that seasonal nasal allergies will disappear if you move to a different climate. While the place you move to may not have the tree, weed, or grass that you’re allergic to, it may have other types of pollen or mold. You may develop a sensitivity to these other pollens and molds over time.


Myth #3, Allergies are all in your head.
Allergies are a real medical condition that affects the immune system. Emotional stress may worsen symptoms, but allergies are not caused by emotions.


Myth #4, Short-haired pets are better than long-haired pets.
If you are allergic to cats or dogs, you are allergic to the saliva, urine, or dander (skin scales), not the hair. The best way to relieve symptoms is to keep the pet out of your bedroom, and out of the house when possible.


Myth #5, Allergies are harmless.
Allergies are a serious problem and should be treated that way. If left untreated, nasal allergies can lead to other serious complications.

Pediatric Allergies

How Allergies Affect Your Child’s Health

Your child has been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, a physiological response to specific allergens such as pet dander or ragweed. The symptoms are fairly simple — a runny nose (rhinitis), watery eyes, and some periodic sneezing. The best solution is to administer over-the-counter antihistamine, and the problem will resolve on its own ….right?


Not really – the interrelated structures of the ears, nose, and throat can cause certain medical problems which trigger additional disorders – all with the possibility of serious consequences.


Simple hay fever can lead to long term problems in swallowing, sleeping, hearing, and breathing. Let’s see what else can happen to a child with a case of hay fever.


  • Ear infections: One of children’s most common medical problems is otitis media, or middle ear infection. These infections are especially common in early childhood. They are even more common when children suffer from allergic rhinitis (hay fever) as well. Allergic inflammation can cause swelling in the nose and around the opening of the Eustachian tube (ear canal). This swelling has the potential to interfere with drainage of the middle ear. When bacteria laden discharge clogs the tube, infection is more likely.
  • Sore throats: The hay fever allergens may lead to the formation of too much mucus which can make the nose run or drip down the back of the throat, leading to “post-nasal drip.” It can lead to cough, sore throats, and husky voice. Although more common in older people and in dry inland climates, thick, dry mucus can also irritate the throat and be hard to clear. Air conditioning, winter heating, and dehydration can aggravate the condition. Paradoxically, antihistamines will do so as well. Some newer antihistamines do not produce dryness.
  • Snoring: Chronic nasal obstruction is a frequent symptom of seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and perennial (year-round) allergic rhinitis. This allergic condition may have a debilitating effect on the nasal turbinates, the small, shelf-like, bony structures covered by mucous membranes (mucosa). The turbinates protrude into the nasal airway and help to warm, humidify, and cleanse air before it reaches the lungs. When exposed to allergens, the mucosa can become inflamed. The blood vessels inside the membrane swell and expand, causing the turbinates to become enlarged and obstruct the flow of air through the nose. This inflammation, or rhinitis, can cause chronic nasal obstruction that affects individuals during the day and night.


Enlarged turbinates and nasal congestion can also contribute to headaches and sleep disorders such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, because the nasal airway is the normal breathing route during sleep. Once turbinate enlargement becomes chronic, it is irreversible except with surgical intervention.


  • Pediatric sinusitis: Allergic rhinitis can cause enough inflammation to obstruct the openings to the sinuses. Consequently, a bacterial sinus infection occurs. The disease is similar for children and adults. Children may or may not complain of pain. However, in acute sinusitis, they will often have pain and typically have fever and a purulent nasal discharge. In chronic sinusitis, pain and fever are not evident. Some children may have mood or behavior changes. Most will have a purulent, runny nose and nasal congestion even to the point where they must mouth breathe. The infected sinus drains around the Eustachian tube, and therefore many of the children will also have a middle ear infection.
  • Seasonal allergic rhinitis may resolve after a short period. Administration of the proper over-the-counter antihistamines may alleviate the symptoms. However, if your child suffers from perennial (year round) allergic rhinitis, an examination by specialist will assist in preventing other ear, nose and throat problems from occurring.

Chronic Rhinitis

Chronic rhinitis results in a persistently runny nose and often postnasal drip, congestion, coughing, itching, and sneezing. While some symptoms may be related to allergies, symptoms from chronic rhinitis may occur all year. This challenging condition can negatively impact your life in countless ways. And trying to find an effective treatment can be frustrating. Like many, you may manage your symptoms using medications and sprays. Unfortunately, these treatments only provide temporary relief. It is only when the root cause of your rhinitis is addressed that you can expect to find real, lasting relief.

RhinAer®

Lasting Relief Is Possible Without Surgery

If your nose is always runny, you may be one of the millions of people living with chronic rhinitis. Until now, treatment often meant managing symptoms with medications and sprays. For many patients, these symptoms may be caused by abnormal signals in the nose.  Dr Cunning can offer you the RhinAer® procedure to disrupt these signals and provide lasting relief without surgery.


Clinically proven to provide lasting relief of symptoms including runny nose, post-nasal drip, and chronic cough.


Non-Invasive

Minimal discomfort, no incisions, and can be performed in your doctor’s office.


Live Better

Clinical studies have shown that patients treated with RhinAer® reported significant improvements in their symptoms and quality of life.

Chronic Sinusitis

Pediatric Sinusitis

Your child’s sinuses are not fully developed until age 20. Although small, the maxillary (behind the cheek) and ethmoid (between the eyes) sinuses are present at birth. Unlike in adults, pediatric sinusitis is difficult to diagnose because symptoms can be subtle and the causes complex.


How do I know when my child has sinusitis?
The following symptoms may indicate a sinus infection in your child:


  • a “cold” lasting more than 10 to 14 days, sometimes with a low-grade fever thick,
  • yellow-green nasal drainage
  • post-nasal drip, sometimes leading to or exhibited as sore throat, cough, bad breath, nausea and/or vomiting
  • headache, usually in children age six or older
  • irritability or fatigue
  • swelling around the eyes


Young children have immature immune systems and are more prone to infections of the nose, sinus, and ears, especially in the first several years of life. These are most frequently caused by viral infections (colds), and they may be aggravated by allergies. However, when your child remains ill beyond the usual week to ten days, a serious sinus infection is likely.

You can reduce the risk of sinus infections for your child by reducing exposure to known allergens and pollutants such as tobacco smoke, reducing his/her time at day care and treating stomach acid reflux disease.


How will the doctor treat sinusitis?

  • Acute sinusitis: Most children respond very well to antibiotic therapy. Nasal decongestants or topical nasal sprays may also be prescribed for short-term relief of stuffiness. Nasal saline (saltwater) drops or gentle spray can be helpful in thinning secretions and improving mucous membrane function.


If your child has acute sinusitis, symptoms should improve within the first few days. Even if your child improves dramatically within the first week of treatment, it is important that you continue therapy until all the antibiotics have been taken. Your doctor may decide to treat your child with additional medicines if he/she has allergies or other conditions that make the sinus infection worse.


  • Chronic sinusitis: If your child suffers from one or more symptoms of sinusitis for at least 12 weeks, he or she may have chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis or recurrent episodes of acute sinusitis numbering more than four to six per year are indications that you should seek consultation with an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. The ENT may recommend medical or surgical treatment of the sinuses.
  • Diagnosis of sinusitis: If your child sees an ENT specialist, the doctor will examine his/her ears, nose, and throat. A thorough history and examination usually leads to the correct diagnosis. Occasionally, special instruments will be used to look into the nose during the office visit. An x-ray called a CT scan may help to determine how your child’s sinuses are formed, where the blockage has occurred, and the reliability of a sinusitis diagnosis.


When is surgery necessary?
Only a small percentage of children with severe or persistent sinusitis require surgery to relieve symptoms that do not respond to medical therapy. Using an instrument called an endoscope, the ENT surgeon opens the natural drainage pathways of your child’s sinuses and makes the narrow passages wider. This also allows for culturing so that antibiotics can be directed specifically against your child’s sinus infection. Opening up the sinuses and allowing air to circulate usually results in a reduction in the number and severity of sinus infections.


Your doctor may advise removing adenoid tissue from behind the nose as part of the treatment for sinusitis. Although the adenoid tissue does not directly block the sinuses, infection of the adenoid tissue, called adenoiditis, or obstruction of the back of the nose, can cause many of the symptoms that are similar to sinusitis, namely, runny nose, stuffy nose, post-nasal drip, bad breath, cough and headache.


Sinusitis in children is different than sinusitis in adults. Children more often demonstrate a cough, bad breath, crankiness, low energy, and swelling around the eyes along with a thick yellow-green nasal or post-nasal drip. Once the diagnosis of sinusitis has been made, children are successfully treated with antibiotic therapy in most cases. If medical therapy fails, surgical therapy can be used as a safe and effective method of treating sinus disease in children.

Sinusitis

Have you ever had a cold or allergy attack that wouldn’t go away? If so, there’s a good chance you actually had sinusitis. Experts estimate that 37 million people are afflicted with sinusitis each year, making it one of the most common health conditions in America. That number may be significantly higher, since the symptoms of bacterial sinusitis often mimic those of colds or allergies, and many sufferers never see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment with an antibiotic.

What is sinusitis?
Acute bacterial sinusitis is an infection of the sinus cavities caused by bacteria. It usually is preceded by a cold, allergy attack, or irritation by environmental pollutants. Unlike a cold, or allergy, bacterial sinusitis requires a physician’s diagnosis and treatment with an antibiotic to cure the infection and prevent future complications.

Normally, mucus collecting in the sinuses drains into the nasal passages. When you have a cold or allergy attack, your sinuses become inflamed and are unable to drain. This can lead to congestion and infection. Diagnosis of acute sinusitis usually is based on a physical examination and a discussion of your symptoms. Your doctor also may use x-rays of your sinuses or obtain a sample of your nasal discharge to test for bacteria.


When Acute Becomes Chronic Sinusitis
When you have frequent sinusitis, or the infection lasts three months or more, it could be chronic sinusitis. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis may be less severe than those of acute; however, untreated chronic sinusitis can cause damage to the sinuses and cheekbones that sometimes requires surgery to repair.


Treating Sinusitis
Bacterial sinusitis: Therapy for bacterial sinusitis should include an appropriate antibiotic. If you have three or more symptoms of sinusitis (see chart), be sure to see your doctor for diagnosis. In addition to an antibiotic, an oral or nasal spray or drop decongestant may be recommended to relieve congestion, although you should avoid prolonged use of nonprescription nasal sprays or drops. Inhaling steam or using saline nasal sprays or drops can help relieve sinus discomfort.


Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance means that some infection-causing bacteria are immune to the effects of certain antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Antibiotic resistance is making even common infections, such as sinusitis, challenging to treat. You can help prevent antibiotic resistance. If the doctor prescribes an antibiotic, it is important that you take all of the medication just as your doctor instructs, even if your symptoms are gone before the medicine runs out.


Chronic Sinusitis
If your doctor thinks you have chronic sinusitis, intensive antibiotic therapy may be prescribed. Surgery is sometimes necessary to remove physical obstructions that may contribute to sinusitis.


Sinus Surgery
Surgery should be considered only if medical treatment fails or if there is a nasal obstruction that cannot be corrected with medications. The type of surgery is chosen to best suit the patient and the disease. Surgery can be performed under the upper lip, behind the eyebrow, next to the nose or scalp, or inside the nose itself.


Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is recommended for certain types of sinus disease. With the endoscope, the surgeon can look directly into the nose, while at the same time, removing diseased tissue and polyps and clearing the narrow channels between the sinuses. The decision whether to use local or general anesthesia will be made between you and your doctor, depending on your individual circumstances.


Before surgery, be sure that you have realistic expectations for the results, recovery, and postoperative care. Good results require not only good surgical techniques, but a cooperative effort between the patient and physician throughout the healing process. It is equally important for patients to follow pre- and postoperative instructions.


Preventing Sinusitis
As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To avoid developing sinusitis during a cold or allergy attack, keep your sinuses clear by:


  • using an oral decongestant or a short course of nasal spray decongestant
  • gently blowing your nose, blocking one nostril while blowing through the other
  • drinking plenty of fluids to keep nasal discharge thin
  • avoiding air travel. If you must fly, use a nasal spray decongestant before take-off to prevent blockage of the sinuses allowing mucus to drain
  • If you have allergies, try to avoid contact with things that trigger attacks. If you cannot, use over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines and/or a prescription nasal spray to control allergy attacks


Allergy testing, followed by appropriate allergy treatments, may increase your tolerance of allergy-causing substances. If you believe you may have sinusitis, see our tips for sinusitis sufferers.



When to See a Doctor
Because the symptoms of sinusitis sometimes mimic those of colds and allergies, you may not realize you need to see a doctor. If you suspect you have sinusitis, review these signs and symptoms. If you suffer from three or more, you should see your doctor.


A Word about Children
Your child’s sinuses are not fully developed until age 20. However, children can still suffer from sinus infection. Although small, the maxillary (behind the cheek) and ethmoid (between the eyes) sinuses are present at birth. Sinusitis is difficult to diagnose in children because respiratory infections are more frequent, and symptoms can be subtle. Unlike a cold or allergy, bacterial sinusitis requires a physician’s diagnosis and treatment with an antibiotic to prevent future complications.


The following symptoms may indicate a sinus infection in your child:

  • a “cold” lasting more than 10 to 14 days, sometimes with low-grade fever
  • thick yellow-green nasal drainage
  • post-nasal drip, sometimes leading to or exhibited as sore throat, cough, bad breath, nausea and/or vomiting
  • headache, usually not before age 6
  • irritability or fatigue
  • swelling around the eyes


If despite appropriate medical therapy these symptoms persist, care should be taken to seek an underlying cause. The role of allergy and frequent upper respiratory infections should be considered.

Balloon Sinuplasty

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