Hayfever

Other terms for Hayfever include "seasonal allergic rhinitis" because the symptoms are typically seasonal, recurring annually when the atmospheric levels of pollen or spores are highest. Hayfever is an allergic reaction; mostly it is associated with summer pollen but can be cause by household dust, animal hairs, etc. As with all allergies, the symptoms occur as a result of your immune system react excessively to a normally harmless substance – in this case, pollen. When the body comes into contact with pollen, cells on the lining of your nose, mouth and eyes release chemical called histamine that activate the symptoms of an allergic reaction. Food is not a usual cause of this problem and it does not cause fever. Symptoms of Hayfever include sneezing, nasal congestion, and eye irritation while harvesting field hay promoted this popular term.

Symptoms

Hayfever includes the symptoms differ in harshness and some people find their symptoms are inferior some years than others. Symptoms also start at different times of year depending on the type of pollen you’re allergic to. Commonly the symptoms of Hayfever are: Sneezing, Runny nose, postnasal drip, sensation of plugged ear, watery, bloodshot eyes, weakness, trouble sleeping, an irritated throat, mouth and ears. Less commonly, you may have: loss of smell, face pain (caused by blocked sinuses), sweats; and, headaches.

If you are suffered from asthma, you may find that your asthma symptoms, such as wheezing and breathlessness, get worse when you have Hayfever moreover. Sometimes asthma symptoms only happen during the Hayfever season.

Causes

Hayfever is an allergy to pollen. When pollen comes into exchange with the cells that line the mouth, nose, eyes and throat, it inflames them. If you’re allergic to pollen, your body thinks it is risky, and produces a special type of antibody to attack the pollen. This triggers the release of further chemicals, including histamine, which together cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction. It is more common during the summer when the levels of pollen are highest. Research shows that pollution can make allergies such as Hayfever worse.

Diagnosis

A lot it will be enough to tell the doctor when, where, and how your symptoms occur. The diagnosis involves several steps. First a complete family history is taken along with a complete list of symptoms and when they occur. Skin tests and specific blood tests can be used to confirm what exactly you are allergic to. A skin test is usually done first because it is quick and straightforward. The skin is pricked with a tiny amount of the substance you’re thought to be allergic to, and the amount of antibodies made by the body to offset it is measured. A blood test involves taking a small sample of blood to measures the amount of the antibody presents.

Treatment

There are three sorts of treatment;
1 - Anti-histamine tablets
2 - Nasal steroid sprays
3 -Anti-allergy injections

Anti Histamine Tablets

These stop the histamine, the chemical revealed by your body, from causing the symptoms of an allergic reaction. There are two types of anti-histamine - those that cause drowsiness and those that do not. The non-sedating type is more expensive. Many anti-histamine tablets are available in the chemist shops. They knock out the body's immune system, inhibiting the pollens from obtaining an uncomfortable response.

Nasal steroid sprays

Steroid nasal sprays help to prevent all nose symptoms, including, sneezing and congestion. They can also relieve itchy, watery eyes. Nasal sprays are only used on the affected area, and leave the rest of the immune system alone. They need to be applied twice a day.

Anti-Allergy Injections

Anti-allergy injections are only used in especially harsh cases and are given over a number of years. They suggest long-term safety from allergies.

Prevention

It’s very complicated to entirely avoid pollen, but you should be able to control Hayfever symptoms by taking some sensible precautions. Falling your contact to pollen is the best thing you can do to ease symptoms, so try to stay indoors when pollen counts are high.

keep windows and doors shut in the house. If it gets too warm, try drawing the curtains to keep out the sun and keep the temperature down.

wear wrap-around sunglasses to stop pollen getting in your eyes when you are outdoors.

Avoid cutting grass, playing or walking in grassy areas, and camping.

keep fresh flowers out of the house, and vacuum and damp dust regularly.

Don’t smoke and stop other people from smoking in your house

keep wooly pets out of the house during the Hayfever season. If yours pet does come indoors, wash them regularly to remove any pollen from their fur.

Expected Duration

Hayfever is seasonal, occurring in spring (usually early May onwards) and summer. While Hayfever symptoms can come back each year when the offending plant begins to develop, they tend to diminish as you get older. Some people don't develop Hayfever pending maturity.