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The Facts About Hay Fever

By: Alisha Dhamani

Hay fever is an allergic reaction. It is your immune system's response to foreign material in the air you breathe. Hay fever usually refers to allergies to outdoor, airborne materials such as pollens and molds.

About 15-20% of the population of the United States has some degree of hay fever. It is found equally in both men and women. Usually hay fever is seasonal, but it can last all year long if the allergen stays throughout the year. Spring and fall are the main hay fever seasons.

Hay fever, like all allergic reactions, is caused by allergens, foreign "invaders" that enter your body by inhalation, by swallowing, or through your skin. In hay fever, the allergens are airborne substances that enter your airways (mouth, nose, throat, and lungs) via your breathing and the linings of your eyes and sometimes ears via direct contact.

Most of the time it is difficult to identify a specific allergen. Once these allergens come in contact with your airway, the white blood cells of your immune system produce antibodies to the offending substance. This overreaction to a harmless substance is often called a hypersensitivity reaction.

Use air conditioning and limit outside exposure during hay fever season. Allergy shots may help reduce the severity of your symptoms. To keep from bringing your allergy indoors, do what you can to keep your home free of mold and other allergens. Moving to a new part of the country usually doesn't help. People who do this often find themselves with new allergies within a few years.

You can't prevent hay fever altogether, but you can learn to cope with it. Follow the treatment recommendations of your health care provider. The medications are very effective but may take several days to reach full effectiveness.

Consult your health care provider periodically to see if new, better medications with fewer side effects are available. Periodic re-evaluation of your allergy sensitivity is also recommended to prevent further illness. If you would like to have allergy shots for desensitization, discuss it with your primary health care provider or an allergist.

Follow the treatment recommendations of your health care provider. Give the medications a chance. Most of them work well but some take several days to reach full effectiveness. See your health care provider if you experience any complication of hay fever. Any adverse effects of the medications prescribed should also prompt a visit to your health care provider. Hay fever symptoms lend themselves to home treatment.

Take nonprescription antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to relieve symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, and itchy throat and eyes. Caution - these medications may make you too drowsy to drive a car or operate machinery safely. For stuffy nose, a combination of an antihistamine and a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, Actifed) may work better.

Gargle with warm salt water, 1-2 tablespoons of table salt in 8 ounces of warm water, to soothe a mildly sore throat.

An allergy specialist (allergist) may be able to determine the exact allergen causing your hay fever. He or she uses a skin test in which dilute solutions of various allergens are introduced into your skin. A positive reaction is indicated by a typical wheal and flare reaction (raised red bump).

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