Baltimore City Wire

Some experts believe there are three genuine reasons people experience sinus problems and allergy symptoms following celebrations of St. Patrick's Day.

Acid reflux from the foods you may eat while celebrating is one possible cause. A study published in the medical journal BMC Pulmonary Medicine in 2021 found that there was a connection between acid reflux and nasal problems. 

Alcohol-induced nasal symptoms can also be a problem after the celebrations and can lead to allergic rhinitis in the nose for some patients, according to a study published in the medical journal Respiratory Medicine in 2005.

The intensifying of normal seasonal allergies is the third cause, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. While some spring allergies generally start in February, the official beginning of spring is just a few days away from St. Patrick's Day, which is traditionally celebrated on March 17.

“It's the duty of the physician to provide those alternatives," Dr. Jamie Oberman of Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Baltimore City Wire. "Some still do better with allergy shots, but there's also the sublingual route that we can always consider if they do have a needle phobia or can't make it to a monthly doctor's appointment, if that  doesn't work well with their lifestyle, in addition to the medical management."

Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers provides a Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz for people to evaluate their symptoms and decide if they might consider seeing a doctor.