What is Hay Fever
Hay fever is the allergic health condition that is characterized by exaggerated immune response to dust, pollen grains and some other substances. Early occurrence of nasal congestion, sneezing and irritation in the eyes should be reported to the doctor immediately. Allergic rhinitis is the apt term for this type of allergic reaction. Rhinitis means inflammation of nose. The condition which takes place at specific season is known as seasonal allergic rhinitis. And when the allergy is faced all through the year, it is known as perennial allergic rhinitis.
Generally, it is seen that people suffer from hay fever in spring season as you may be allergic to the tree pollens. Weed and grass pollens may be the reason behind the allergy in summers. In case of autumn season, weeds plague and fungus spores lead to allergy problems. It is important to note that hay fever is generally the inherited or genetic trait and majority of people have some sibling or parent with some allergy problems. People with eczema or asthma have higher probability of developing this condition and around 1/3rd of the people with allergic rhinitis have mild allergic asthma.
Causes of hay fever
The condition may be caused by a lot of things including:
- Smoke
- Dust
- Fur and feather
- Pollen
- Scales
- Must mites
- Some food items like peanuts, chicken, shellfish
Common hay fever symptoms
There are some signs and symptoms that indicate if you may catch hay fever. These include:
- nasal congestion
- runny nose with clear mucus
- sneezing
- nose, eye itching
- tear production in the eyes
What triggers hay fever?
- Outdoor allergens like pollens from grass, trees and weeds
- Indoor allergens like pet hair, dust mites and mold
- Irritants like cigarette smoke, perfume and diesel exhaust
Diagnosis
In order to find the best way of treating allergic rhinitis signs and symptoms, it is crucial to see the allergist as soon as possible. The allergist may start your diagnosis after taking detailed background of your health, looking for the clues from your lifestyle. The specialist will ask about your eating habits, family medical history, severity and frequency of symptoms.
The allergist may ask you to go for a skin test where small volume of allergens is introduced in the skin. Skin test is easy and least costly way to identify the allergens present in your body. After your condition will be diagnosed, the healthcare professional will let you know how to proceed with the treatment processes. Also, there are ways using which you can manage hay fever at home. Take a look below on how to manage the condition with some simple lifestyle changes and habits.
Managing hay fever: How to manage?
- Use decongestant spray or drops to relieve the nasal congestion and stuffiness. These drops help to treat the mild attacks only.
- Wear sunglasses or glasses as you step out in order to keep the pollens and dust out of the eyes.
- Wash your hands properly after you pet some animal.
- Use the mite proof bed covers for restricting the exposure to dehumidifier and dust mites to control the mold.
- Cover the nose while cleaning the furniture, floor. It is better to do the same when you change the linen.
- Take the anti allergy medicines like Benadryl for mild allergy.
Hay Fever Treatment
Even the FDA has given a nod to under the tongue tablets which can be taken at home for hay fever. These are Ragwitek, Oralair and Grastek that can be used to treat the condition as they work in same manner like the drops and shots with the main aim to boost tolerance and immunity of the patient suffering from such allergies.
Another treatment available is immunotherapy which involves a set of injections being injected in larger dose of allergen till the patient’s body becomes desensitized to the same and does not overreact to it. This treatment has shown positive feedback in 75 percent people with severe case of hat fever. It generally takes about 1 to 5 years of such shots to show real results.