Hay fever is the common term for allergic rhinitis, a condition in which your nasal passages become swollen and inflamed, producing cold-like symptoms. Unlike a cold, however, hay fever is caused by an allergic response to an indoor or outdoor substance such as pollen, mold, or animal dander.
Symptoms
Hay fever is a bit of a misnomer, as it has nothing to do with hay and does not cause a fever. It is actually an immune system response to an allergen that is perceived as a threat, such as pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds; dust mites; mold and fungi spores and smoke or pollution.
Symptoms of hay fever closely mirror that of the common cold, minus the body aches and fever sometimes associated with cold viruses. Signs include sneezing, watery eyes, itchiness (nose, throat, and eyes), runny/stuffy nose, sinus pain and pressure and swollen, bluish skin beneath the eyes known as allergic shiners. Some patients report headaches and a loss of smell and taste. Severe cases of hay fever can interfere with your sleep and lead to fatigue and irritability. Hay fever often triggers attacks in asthma sufferers.
Certain risk factors make you more susceptible to developing hay fever. These include having a family history of hay fever, asthma, other allergies, exposure to secondhand smoke, males, and those born during pollen season all have an increased chance of contracting hay fever at some point.
Treatment
Avoiding the allergens that trigger your body’s immune system response is the best way to prevent hay fever. It can be tough to avoid all traces of these substances, of course, making medical treatment necessary for many people. Drugs – including antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal and oral corticosteroids – are often helpful. Over-the-counter medications work fine in many cases, but if you aren’t finding relief from those, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications. Allergy shots (immunotherapy) offer long-term relief when other options fail, and work by allowing your body to build up a tolerance to the offending substance by delivering gradually increasing doses over time.
If you are seeking relief from hay fever, call Mile High Otolaryngology at (303) 487-0834 for a solution. We can help!
