🌿 Could your allergies be causing more than you think? Here’s how some Houstonians are finding lasting relief

HOUSTON – For many people in Houston, allergy season can feel like a way of life.

Sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes — they come and go with the seasons, and for some, they never fully go away. Over-the-counter medications can take the edge off, but for countless Houstonians, the symptoms always seem to return.

But what if the goal wasn’t just managing allergies… but actually changing how your body responds to them?

At McGovern Allergy & Asthma Clinic in Bellaire, that’s exactly the approach.

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The Overlooked Link Between Allergies and Asthma

One of the most surprising things many patients learn is just how closely allergies and asthma are connected.

“Allergies can be a major driver of asthma,” explains Dr. Serge de Golovine, a board-certified allergist and immunologist. “In some cases, when you identify and treat the underlying allergy, you can significantly reduce — or even eliminate — asthma symptoms.”

It’s a connection that often goes unnoticed. Patients may treat asthma and allergies as two separate conditions, when in reality, they can be deeply intertwined.

Understanding that link can be the first step toward lasting relief.

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Beyond Symptom Relief: Training the Immune System

While antihistamines and inhalers can help manage symptoms in the moment, they don’t address the root cause.

That’s where immunotherapy — commonly known as allergy shots — comes in.

Rather than simply suppressing symptoms, immunotherapy works by gradually introducing small amounts of an allergen to the body, helping the immune system build tolerance over time.

Think of it as retraining your body.

Over time, many patients experience fewer reactions, less severe symptoms, and a reduced need for medication.

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A Shift That Can Change Daily Life

For one patient, Breanna Compean, that shift has been life-changing.

She jokes that she used to feel “allergic to everything.” Like many people, she had been managing her symptoms for years — including asthma — without realizing the two were connected.

“I never knew my allergies were actually causing my asthma,” she says.

Before seeking specialized care, Compean relied on steroid treatments to manage flare-ups. But after working to get her allergies under control, her experience has completely changed.

In the four years since starting treatment, she hasn’t needed a single steroid shot.

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A More Proactive Approach to Feeling Better

For many, allergy season has always meant reacting — waiting for symptoms to hit, then trying to manage them.

But a growing number of patients are taking a more proactive approach: understanding their triggers, working with specialists, and exploring treatments that support long-term change.

Because relief doesn’t just have to be temporary.

And for those living with both allergies and asthma, getting to the root of the problem could make all the difference — not just during allergy season, but year-round.

For more information, head online to McGovernAllergy.com or call 713-661-1444.