Seasonal Allergies: Hay Fever
If you're anything like me, then you'll understand how I feel when Spring arrives and all you want to do is ahh-choo, sneeze! If you get symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, coughing, or itchy, swollen eyes, you may mistaken it for a cold, but it could be an allergy.
[Photo Credit: chiropracticmakati.com and hayfeverinjection.net]
Allergies can be caused from pollen, dust, mold, animal dander, food, medicine, and more. Allergic rhinitis or commonly known as hay fever,is an allergic reaction to pollen or allergens produced by weeds, trees, and grass that are often carried in the air during the Spring and Summer seasons.
When your body breathes in the air, an allergic reaction occurs if your body's immune system reacts to the allergen. Hay fever is one of the most common forms of allergies.
Hay fever symptoms include:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Coughing
- Red, swollen eyes
- Itchy skin
Does this sound like the common cold? There is a difference between the common cold and hay fever allergies. Have a look at this chart by MedicineNet.com
The best way to treat your allergies is to talk to your doctor or local pharmacist. They may be able to provide you with treatment through medicine, allergy shots, or other ways to help.
It's always good to learn more about your allergy in order to help eliminate or tame it. There are some great websites available to help with treatment and prevention tips. These include Mayo Clinic, Medicial News Today, and Web MD, but the library also has some excellent resources for you to look into:
There are many other allergies to consider and some are mentioned in our Health and Wellness Blog on allergies. You can also have a look at our library catalogue to find more on allergies.
Severe forms of hay fever allergies can be difficult to deal with if no treatment is provided. Symptoms can greatly effect overall performamce, disrupt your daily tasks, and make it difficult for you to concentrate or sleep properly. In some people, pollen may even trigger asthma.
When I'm working at my library and suddenly feel the effects of hay fever symptoms, I constantly sneeze and blow my nose, which makes it look as though I'm sick.
These are the moments when I wish I had some medicine to help me get through my day!
Do you have hay fever allergies? How do you cope?
[Photo Credit: Werid Inventions by Fun Glove Blog]
9 thoughts on “Seasonal Allergies: Hay Fever”
I also have seasonal allergies. Here are a few more tips for allergy sufferers:
Shower before bedtime and/or change your pillowcase often. If not removed, pollens collected on your hair throughout the day will bother you through the night.
Change your clothes when you come indoors. Again, pollens collected on your clothing will follow you indoors & bother you inside your home.
If your pets go outside, they will bring pollens into your home on their fur. Be careful when you pat your dog or cat. Remember to wash your hands afterwards.
Less common seasonal allergy symptoms include: fatigue, an inability to concentrate, mood change, headaches, interrupted sleep.
My allergist once explained that immigrants may not experience allergic symptoms during the first year they are in a new country. For example, if I moved from Canada to Mexico, I might not experience seasonal allergies my first year there. However, as an allergy sufferer, I could expect to develop seasonal allergies to the local pollens during my second, third or fourth year in Mexico. Interesting, isn’t it?
Hi Jackie,
These are excellent tips to keep in mind! Thank you for sharing. It’s also very interesting to see how allergies can affect newcomers!
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Thank you for your healthy support on allergies and hay fever point. In this you have have also shared Hay fever symptoms for healthy manner.
Thank you for your comment Loratadine! I hope you have effective ways to cope with hayfever allergies!
One of my friends in Junior High school is having seasonal allergies. I also believe that the best way to treat your allergies is to visit your doctor. They will surely give us with a proper prescription and proper way to help.
Hi Janet,
That is a very good suggestion and one that people should never overlook. Going to the doctors to find out additional treatment and just more information in general is very important. Thank you for your comment!
Debby
I need to get my allergies in line, they are driving me nuts this year. I think I might have become immune to the medicine I have been using for years. I want to try something new, and hope that it works better and clears up my sinus. http://myallergydrops.com/
Hi Debby,
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I wasn’t sure if you often write about allergies or asthma, but I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that we have developed the world’s first allergy and asthma air quality alert system, called AlerSense. It is designed to alert consumers as particles and toxins which build, which could cause allergy or asthma attacks. AlerSense has a smart mobile app that learns about the user’s sensitivities and then adjusts the alerts, accordingly. We are launching the product now, and are shipping our first units this spring.
If you would like to know more, I would certainly enjoy speaking with you.
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Thanks,
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Founder and CEO
http://www.alersense.com
650 504 0465
skip@alersense.com