Allergies and Hay Fever

Hi, I'm Megan. Did you know that hay fever doesn't have anything to do with hay? Hay fever is actually caused by plant pollen. Pollen from various types of grasses, weeds, and trees can trigger hay fever symptoms. The medical term for hay fever is seasonal allergic rhinitis. It's a very common problem that affects roughly 30 percent of adults. Like other types of allergies, hay fever causes irritation and inflammation of the lining of the nose, throat, and eyes. When this irritation occurs you'll find yourself with symptoms like watery eyes, a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing and scratchy throat. While some allergies caused by moles, dust, or pet dander tend to occur year-round, have fever is more seasonal. Symptoms are worse when the amount of pollen in the air is high and improve when the pollen count falls. Pollen counts go up and down with the time of year and the weather. Like most allergies, hay fever can be hereditary, so if someone in your family has it there's a good chance you could develop hay fever too. The good news is that hay fever symptoms are treatable. If you think you or someone in your family might have hay fever or some other allergy it's important to talk with your doctor. Simple blood and skin tests can help your doctor pinpoint exactly what you're reacting too. Then you can work together to find the best treatment options for you and your family.