Better understanding of hay fever could help your allergies.
These symptoms happen when your body encounters the allergen, and your immune system mistakenly thinks its a threat.
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Understanding Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is the medical term for hay fever.
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The body then stages an immune response, which triggers hay fever symptoms like sneezing and runny nose.
Hay fever is common: more than 1 in 4 American adults experience it.
Some people experience hay fever seasonally.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ and ©Waikato District Health Boardwww.dermnetnz.org2022.
Other people have perennial allergic rhinitis, or year-round hay fever.
That can make it difficult to pinpoint exactly what youre allergic to.
Keeping a diary of your symptoms and when they occur might help.
Notice whether you experience seasonal allergies or year-round allergic rhinitis.
Reproduced with permission from DermNet NZ and Waikato District Health Boardwww.dermnetnz.org2022.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of hay fever are sneezing and a runny nose.
Some people also experience congestion in their nose and post-nasal drip.
That can make it difficult to tell the two conditions apart.
However, the two conditions do feel slightly different.
Another hint is how long symptoms last.
Your healthcare provider can make a diagnosis and help create a treatment plan that will work for you.
To identify what youre allergic to, theyll likely recommendallergy testing.
In rarer cases, your healthcare provider may order a blood test to confirm your allergy.
Can Hay Fever Cause Complications?
The primary symptoms of hay fever can lead to secondary symptoms and complications.
In addition, hay fever can lead to poor sleep, irritability, and trouble making decisions.
The biggest change is avoiding your allergen when possible.
Heres how:
Medications for Hay Fever
Over-the-counter medicationsandprescription medicationsare very effective at treating hay fever.
It introduces the allergen to your body to train your immune system not to react to it.
Speak with your healthcare provider, who can help create a treatment plan.
Remember, although hay fever is very common, you dont have to live with the symptoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Allergens and pollen.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever (rhinitis).
Ramachandran M, Aronson JK.John Bostock’s first description of hayfever.J R Soc Med.
- doi:10.1258/jrsm.2010.10k056
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy facts and figures.
NIH.Cold, flu or allergies?
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Hay fever medication.
American College of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Allergy immunotherapy,
