Hay fever is a common allergic condition that affects up to one in five people at some point in their life.
Symptoms of Hay Fever include:
You’ll experience hay fever symptoms if you have an allergic reaction to pollen.
Pollen is a fine powder released by plants as part of their reproductive cycle. It contains proteins that can cause the nose, eyes, throat and sinuses (small air-filled cavities behind your cheekbones and forehead) to become swollen, irritated and inflamed.
You can have an allergy to:
Read more about the causes of hay fever.
Many people find their symptoms improve as they get older. Around half of people report some improvement in symptoms after several years. Symptoms disappear completely in around 10-20% of people.
There’s currently no cure for hay fever, but most people are able to relieve symptoms with treatment, at least to a certain extent.
The most effective way to control hay fever would be to avoid exposure to pollen. However, it’s very difficult to avoid pollen, particularly during the summer months when you want to spend more time outdoors.
Treatment options for hay fever include antihistamines, which can help to prevent an allergic reaction from occurring and corticosteroids (steroids), which help to reduce inflammation and swelling.
Hay fever can often be controlled using over-the-counter medication from your pharmacist. However, if your symptoms are more troublesome it’s worth speaking to your doctor, as you may require prescription medication.
For severe and persistent hay fever, there’s also a type of treatment called immunotherapy. It involves being exposed to small amounts of pollen over time, to build resistance to its allergic effects. However, this can take many months or even years to work. Read more about: Treating Hay Fever.
Hay fever is one of the most common allergic conditions. It’s estimated that there are more than 10 million people with hay fever in England.
You can get hay fever at any age, although it usually begins in childhood or during the teenage years. It’s more common in boys than girls. In adults, men and women are equally affected.
You’re more likely to develop hay fever if you have a family history of allergies, particularly Asthma or eczema.
It’s sometimes possible to prevent the symptoms of hay fever by taking some basic precautions, such as:
Read More About: Preventing Hay Fever.
Even though hay fever doesn’t pose a serious threat to health, it can have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life. People with very severe hay fever often find that it can disrupt their productivity at school or work.
Inflammation of the sinuses is another common complication of hay fever. Children may also develop a middle ear infection (otitis media) as a result of hay fever.
The Met Office provides a pollen forecast. If the pollen count is high, you can take preventative measures, such as taking antihistamine medication, before leaving the house.
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Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Treating Lung Cancer
Diagnosing Lung Cancer
Preventing Lung Cancer
Pneumonia
Treating Pneumonia
Bronchitis
Symptoms of Bronchitis
Causes of Bronchitis
Treating Bronchitis
Asthma
Causes of Asthma
Symptoms of Asthma
Diagnosing Asthma
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Allergies
Symptoms of Allergies
Treating Allergies
Diagnosing Allergies
Avoiding Allergies
Source: NHS UK
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hay-fever/Pages/Introduction.aspx