Hay Fever

Spring often brings visions of vibrant flowers in full bloom and every creature stirring to life after a chilly hibernation. However, there are some individuals who can’t help but feel a sense of dread mainly because it is also the allergy season. So if you are experiencing stuffy nose, itchy and swollen eyes, you may be experiencing hay fever or what is otherwise known as allergic rhinitis.

Hay fever is the common name from human’s allergic reactions to some specific substances in the environment. According to researches, this particular medical condition affects roughly around 40 million Americans. What triggers this allergic attack? Among the major identified allergens are pollen, grasses, dust mites, cockroaches and molds. This means, if you have developed high sensitivity to all these allergens, you will probably suffer the all year round hay fever symptoms and not just during spring. Although hay fever is far from deadly, it generally impairs the quality of living and is known to cause bouts of sleeplessness, fatigue and irritability – all of which can largely affect performance in work or in school. Medical experts also claim that such conditions actually increases the risks of other allergic complications such as asthma and eczema.

Hay fever symptoms may range from the mild or negligible and severe manifestations. Among the telltale signs are runny nose and watery eyes. However, there are a lot of individuals who experience persistent allergic reactions such as chronic congestion, facial pressures and pains, and the sense of smell and taste are also often affected, too. All these symptoms develop rapidly once exposed to allergens, even perfumes and smoke can trigger or even worsen the symptoms.

Common hay fever treatments include some oral medications, nasal sprays and eye drops. Most doctors would recommend nasal corticosteroids for people who are suffering from severe bouts of hay fever, which offers fast relief, albeit only for a short time. However, this particular nasal spray is generally safe even for prolonged use. Antihistamines are also known to provide temporary aid but are not effective in treating decongestion. This product basically works by simply blocking the release of histamine, an inflammatory chemical released by the body’s immune system. Among the popular brands are Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton and Tavist. Nasal atropine can relieve runny nose but is actually not advised for people with glaucoma and males with enlarge prostates since among its side effects are difficulty in urination and blurred vision. Immunotherapy or allergy shots are administered only to individuals with severe cases. The patient is usually treated regular for over three to five years with allergen extract injections to desensitize the body and effectively reduce symptoms and decrease the need for constant medication. This particular treatment also prevents the progression of asthma in children.

Recent studies have shown that there is indeed some significant link between hay fever and learning disabilities in children. Researchers have found that there are considerable amount of evidences that can substantiate the claim mainly because allergies affect brain functions. This makes it difficult for children to concentrate and focus to learning tasks at hand. While some people would say there is really no cause for concern for a simple runny nose, experts think otherwise. There are actually around 39 million Americans who suffer from hay fever every single year, since this does not only mean inability to attend school or report to work; the condition largely affects the quality of life and the productivity of the person. Unknown to many, such conditions also trigger other illnesses such as ear and sinus infections and further progression of asthma. This basically means, instead of merely shrugging off a simple case of allergies, one has to exercise more concern once a person has contracted hay fever.