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