Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. Severity of symptoms is directly related to the amount of pollen that the sufferer is exposed to. This can vary depending on the pollen count, heat and time of day.

Symptoms are similar to allergic rhinitis and include:

running nose and sneezing accompanied by red, itchy, streaming eyes
coughing or wheezing
shortness of breath can also be experienced and for some people the pollen can bring on the symptoms of asthma

Less common symptoms include dryness of the throat, no sense of smell, a feverish sweaty feeling, swelling and inflammation of the eyelids, recurrent sinusitis, earache, a stuffy feeling in the ears, or glue ear and itching in the ears.

Reference: The Allergy Bible by Linda Gamlin

» More Information on Hay Fever and Allergic Rhinitis - click here

What to do to reduce hay fever symptoms
During the hay fever season it is a good idea to:

keep an eye on the pollen count and plan activities accordingly
shower and change clothes when you come in from outside and always leave clothes outside the bedroom
remember that pets can also bring pollen into the house
keep the windows closed while travelling and use a filter in the car
use the nillergen range to denature pollen and other allergens
wear glasses to restrict the amount of pollen reaching the eyes
keep the windows closed in the house and use an air cleaner to filter the air
use a personal wearable air purifier to filter the air reaching the mouth and nose
try natural hay fever products

It has also been suggested that we mention the part food intolerances can play when you have hay fever. Christine Fox (Nutritrion Consultant) recommends avoiding both wheat and cows milk during the hay fever season, stating that an underlying food intolerance seems to increase sensitivity to certain pollen. She also says that hay fever seems to be worst for people of blood group O, who also often find wheat in particular a problem and often do not digest milk very efficiently.

Allergic rhinitis and its symptoms
Usually caused by an inhaled allergen, pollen, dust mite or pet allergen, mould spores or airborne contaminants, allergic rhinitis can also be caused by a food allergy. Symptoms can include a runny nose, sneezing, itchiness of the nose, ears and the roof of the mouth, nasal obstruction, a blocked nose, headaches, disturbed sleep and dark rings around the eyes.

Avoidance
Usually the first things to try are effective precautions against the house dust mite, pollen, moulds and animal dander. However, reactions to foods may contribute, and may be the main cause, in which case avoidance will often reduce or eliminate the symptoms.

For further information on allergic rhinitis please click here.

Disclaimer: Information included on this page is intended for information purposes only and is not to be used as a substitute for consultation with a medical practitioner.

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