Joy detested the spring, summer, and early fall because with those seasons came frequent sneezing and a runny nose. Other times, she experienced loss of smell, had itchy, puffy, red, and watery eyes, shortness of breath that had her wheezing with a headache, scratchy throat, and a very annoying cough.
She had way more than these symptoms at times and had less on good days.
What is Hay fever?
Also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, it is an allergic response that causes cold-like symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, and wheezing among others.
The condition is referred to as hay fever as it occurs during the ‘haying season’ when the grass is cut to be processed and kept as fodder.
Hay fever is seasonal as it is common during spring, summer, and late fall. These are seasons when the weather is warm, windy, and humid, and when the pollen count is very high. But it doesn’t mean seasonal allergic rhinitis can’t occur anytime during the year.
Pollen is a powdery substance produced by trees, grasses, weeds, and flowers. When inhaled, it can trigger off symptoms of the Hay disease.
Other substances in the environment can also trigger this seasonal allergy.
Causes of Hay fever
Substances that trigger off this seasonal allergy include:
Symptoms of Hay fever
There are numerous symptoms observed in people with Hay fever, and unlike the name would have you think, fever is not part of it. These symptoms include:
Headache and pain in the face
Treatment of Hay Fever
Treating hay fever involves symptomatic relief and tackling the allergen. Helpful tips include:
Your doctor may also prescribe other allergy medications and, rarely, immune therapy. However, the mainstay of treatment is to identify and avoid the triggers. This may require making drastic changes to your environment, such as disposing of your rugs or avoiding pets and other furry animals.
