| Allergy is the most common illness in the world. It is | | | | as well as weather conditions will all be considered in |
| characterized by the immune system's reaction to | | | | the evaluation for hay fever. Skin testing is also |
| substances that are viewed by the body as potentially | | | | performed to determine specific sensitivity to particular |
| harmful. The body launches an attack on these | | | | allergens. Since cross-reactivity is normal, your doctor |
| substances which is manifested by the symptoms | | | | will naturally check you for reactions to cross-reacting |
| experienced in an allergy attack. There are many | | | | substances. |
| substances that can cause an allergic reaction. Among | | | | To prevent hay fever, you should avoid being exposed |
| them are peanuts, shellfish, eggs, milk, dust, insect bites | | | | to pollen. If you must go outdoors, try to wear a |
| and pollen. | | | | protective face mask for filtering pollen. You should |
| Also known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever is usually | | | | also avoid going out during the early mornings and |
| characterized by an allergic reaction to pollen. The | | | | evenings when pollen levels are high. When drying your |
| illness is named after the "haying season" when pollen | | | | clothes, never put them outside where they can be |
| grains in the air are in abundance. Since pollen carried | | | | exposed to pollen. The pollen will attach to the clothes |
| by the wind is the more popular culprit, you should be | | | | you placed outside for longer than a moment and if |
| aware of the most common plants releasing these | | | | you wear these clothes it's possible that you could |
| pollen grains in the air. Trees including birch, alder, hazel, | | | | have an allergic reaction. Another activity you should |
| hornbeam, horse chestnut, willow, poplar, plane, lime | | | | avoid is mowing your lawn. This activity will disperse |
| and olive cause hay fever. Among these, birch and | | | | pollen in the air, increasing your chances for a hay |
| olive pollen are the most dominant. On the other hand, | | | | fever attack. Some doctors recommend putting little |
| grass pollen from rye and timothy are responsible for | | | | cream on the nostrils and around the eyes to prevent |
| about 90% of the total hay fever cases. | | | | pollen from entering these areas. |
| Effects of hay fever vary form person to person. | | | | There are currently several available medications for |
| Some experience mild reactions while others suffer | | | | treating symptoms of hay fever. These include |
| severe reactions. Symptoms of the illness include | | | | fast-acting antihistamines, short-acting antihistamines, |
| coughing, headache, itching nose, runny nose and | | | | longer-acting antihistamines, leukotriene receptor |
| sneezing. You might also experience impaired smelling | | | | antagonists, corticosteroid nasal sprays, topical |
| functions and sensitivity to flavors. Your eyes will | | | | decongestants, cromolyn sodium, allergy shots and |
| water from the irritation in your nose. Sore throat, | | | | herbal remedies. Any of these medications can relieve |
| wheezing and conjunctivitis are also common | | | | symptoms of hay fever effectively. You should make |
| reactions. | | | | sure that when taking these medications, you will not |
| Hay fever is usually diagnosed by determining the | | | | be driving or operating heavy machineries since |
| patient's history of symptoms. Your doctor will ask you | | | | drowsiness can be experienced when taking |
| the frequency of your symptoms, severity and onset. | | | | medication like antihistamines. |
| Changes in your diet, exposure to pets and allergens | | | | |