Hay fever is the more well-known name for an allergy (allergic rhinitis) that only manifests during a particular season. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 8% of Americans are affected by it.
When your immune system overreacts to an environmental allergen like pollen, hay fever develops. An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction. The most frequent allergies are pollen from plants pollinated by the wind, including weeds, grasses, and trees. Because they are too heavy to hang about in the air for long, pollen from plants that insects pollinate is less likely to cause an allergic response.
The hay-cutting season is when hay fever gets its name. Historically, this activity took place during the summer, when many individuals started to feel sick.
Winter is a less frequent time for seasonal allergies, although allergic rhinitis may occur anytime. Pollen from various plants is released at different periods of the year. Depending on your allergy triggers and where you reside, you might get hay fever throughout more than one season. Indoor allergens like mould or pet dander might also cause some people to react.
Seasonal allergy signs and symptoms
Seasonal allergies may cause anything from minor to significant symptoms. Among the most typical are:
- Sneezing
- A stuffy or runny nose
- Itching and watery eyes
- Throat, ear canals, or sinuses itching
- Congested ears
- Discharge from the nose
- Less typical signs include:
- Headache
- Respiration difficulty
- Wheezing
- Coughing
Asthma affects many individuals who suffer from hay fever. Your seasonal allergens may set off an asthma attack if you also have hay fever.
Seasonal allergies’ root causes
When an airborne chemical that is often safe triggers a harmful immunological response, hay fever results by releasing histamines and other chemicals into your circulation in response to that substance or allergen, it causes a reaction. Those substances bring on the signs of an allergic response.
The typical causes of hay fever change according to the season.
Spring trees cause the majority of springtime seasonal allergies. Birch is one of the worst offenders when it comes to trees that cause hay fever reactions in northern latitudes. In North America, allergenic trees such as cedar, alder, horse chestnut, willow, and poplar exist.
“Summer hay fever” refers to the time of year when hay is customarily cut. However, weeds and some grasses, like timothy and ryegrass, are the primary causes of seasonal allergies in the summer. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America claims grasses are the most typical allergen for hay fever sufferers.
Season for ragweed occurs in the fall. Ambrosia is the genus name for ragweed, which has around 40 species. In North and South America’s temperate zones, they mostly flourish. They are invasive plants that are challenging to manage. Their pollen is a highly frequent allergen, and ragweed allergy symptoms may be very severe.
Nettles, mugworts, sorrels, fat hens, and plantains are some more plants whose pollen is released in the autumn.
Winter
Most outdoor allergies become dormant by winter. Therefore, many hay fever sufferers find respite from their symptoms in chilly weather. But it also indicates that more people are staying inside. You can also have symptoms from indoor allergens like mould, pet dander, dust mites, or cockroaches if you are prone to seasonal allergies.
Compared to outside pollen, indoor allergens are often simpler to eliminate from your surroundings. Here are some pointers for purging your house of typical allergens:
- At least once every week, wash your bedding in hot water.
- Put allergen-proof coverings on your pillows and beds.
- Carpets and upholstered furniture should be removed.
- Don’t let your kids’ bedrooms include any plush animals.
- Repair water leaks and remove water damage that may encourage the growth of bugs and mould.
- Clean mouldy areas and potential breeding grounds, such as humidifiers, swamp coolers, air conditioners, and freezers.
- To decrease excessive moisture, use a dehumidifier.
How to identify seasonal allergies
Other allergens are often more complex to identify than hay fever. You may have seasonal allergic rhinitis if you have allergy symptoms exclusively at specific periods of the year. As part of the diagnosis, your doctor could also examine your throat, nose, and ears.
Testing for allergies is often not required. No matter what kind of allergen you are sensitive to, you will probably get the same therapy for allergic rhinitis.
Taking care of seasonal allergies
Avoiding allergens that worsen your symptoms is the best treatment for hay fever and seasonal allergic rhinitis. There are various medications for hay fever symptoms. Certain persons also use alternative therapies.
Avoidance
Take precautions to prevent seasonal allergies. Use an air conditioner with a HEPA filter, for instance, rather than ceiling fans, to cool your house in the summer. Stay indoors and consult your local weather network for predictions when pollen levels are high. When your hay fever is terrible:
- Close the windows.
- Limit your time spent outside.
- If it’s windy outdoors, consider wearing a dust mask.
- Smoking should also be avoided since it might worsen hay fever symptoms.
Medication
Other therapies are available if you can’t avoid your allergies, such as:
- Decongestants, antihistamines, and combination drugs combining acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine are available over the counter. Examples include cetirizine (Zyrtec).
- prescription drugs like steroid nasal sprays
- Your doctor could suggest allergy injections if the situation is serious. They are an immunotherapy approach that may assist in reducing the sensitivity of your immune system to allergens.
- Drowsiness, vertigo, and disorientation are a few undesirable side effects that certain allergy drugs may cause.
Substitute therapies
There hasn’t been much research on non-conventional hay fever remedies. The following complementary therapies may assist, according to some people:
- The flavonoid quercetin colours fruits and vegetables.
- Yogurt’s “friendly” bacterium, Lactobacillus acidophilus
- the blue-green algae spirulina
- A vitamin with some antihistamine qualities is vitamin C.
If these alternative therapies are successful, further investigation is required.
The main idea
Seasonal allergy symptoms may be painful. Speak to your doctor if you are suffering from seasonal allergies. They may suggest a course of therapy and assist in identifying the origin of your problems. You should get advice from them on how to avoid allergy triggers. They could also suggest over-the-counter or prescribed medicines.