Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen from wind pollinator plants, with symptoms varying from person to person. Common causes include herbs, weed species, and trees. Weather conditions play a role in the severity of symptoms, and treatment involves reducing exposure to pollen and taking antihistamines.
Hay fever is the common name given to allergic reactions caused by pollen from different plants. The name derives from the fact that the season in which hay is produced is also the season in which airborne pollen is most predominant in most regions of the world, and therefore it is the time of year in which the symptoms of this condition are more frequent. There are a number of plants best known for causing these symptoms, but virtually any wind pollinator plant can cause an allergic reaction.
The most common causes of this condition tend to be herbs, with a wide range of people being allergic to some very common herbs. Both timothy grass, or Phleum pratense, and ryegrass, or Lolium sp., are both noteworthy. Common weed species are also responsible for some of the worst cases of hay fever each year. Particular nuisances include species such as plantain or Plantago, ragweed or Abrosia, mugwort or Artemisia, sorrel or Rumex, and nettle or Urticaceae. A number of common trees can also elicit symptoms in susceptible individuals, including willow, poplar, hazel, alder, cedar and birch.
The symptoms of this condition vary from person to person. Some people may suffer from a runny nose or sinus congestion. Others may have itchy eyes and sneezing.
The time of year when hay fever occurs varies according to the region, the climate and the species to which the sufferer is allergic. Most windblown pollinators enter full pollination beginning in mid-spring and continuing through the summer. Some species, however, may enter full pollination in fall or winter, and some may have extremely short or extremely long windows. Depending on the species one is allergic to, living in the same location can provide an opportunity to predict when symptoms will be particularly severe, allowing a sufferer to prepare through medication, stay indoors, or leave the area temporarily.
Since the pollen that causes hay fever is carried on the wind, weather conditions play a large role in determining how bad a season can be for a person. For example, in damp or wet weather, most of the pollen will simply be washed off or kept close to the ground, so a reaction is unlikely. In colder climates the pollen doesn’t spread as far, leading to a reduction in symptoms. On hot, dry days, however, especially breezy days, pollen spreads far and wide, exacerbating symptoms for all sufferers.
It’s also easy to mistake hay fever allergies for simple dust allergies. Dust allergies often worsen under the same environmental conditions as hay fever, making it sometimes difficult to determine what is causing the allergic reaction. At the same time, many people who are allergic to pollen are also allergic to dust, so the onset of this condition can be a combined reaction to both dust and pollen floating freely in the air.
Treatment of hay fever mainly consists of trying to reduce exposure to the pollen that is causing the symptoms. The easiest way to do this is to simply stay indoors during hay fever season, especially on the hottest, driest, breeziest days. Some sort of indoor filter can help immensely, whether it’s a filter specifically designed to remove airborne particles from the air, or a simple air conditioner. Regular bathing, washing clothes, and nasal irrigation can also help eliminate residual allergens. For those who cannot limit their exposure to allergens, symptoms can be reduced by taking mediators such as antihistamines, which help prevent the body’s worst allergic reactions.
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