Hay fever, known in the medical community as allergic rhinitis, is one of the more common allergies experienced by people in the United States — an estimated 30 percent of Americans experience hay fever.
If you or one of your loved ones experience hay fever, we’d like to help. Our staff of allergy experts can help understand the triggers of your allergies, as well as offer treatment and techniques for managing and controlling the effects of your hay fever, so you can lead a more normal way of life.
Causes & Symptoms of Hay Fever
Hay fever can be defined as the inflammation of your nasal airways. This inflammation occurs when you inhale certain allergens, such as pollen. When you inhale these allergens, your body’s immune system reacts to what it perceives as a threat by releasing histamines into your body, resulting in cold-like symptoms: congestion, watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, etc.
Though the name hay fever implies that it is a seasonal condition, hay fever, depending on the person afflicted, can occur at any time of year and be triggered by a variety of allergens, such as:
- Tree or flower pollen
- Certain grasses and weeds
- Mold
- Dander
- Cigarette smoke
- Pollution
Treatment Options
Our allergy experts offer comprehensive testing to determine the root cause of your allergies and will create a plan customized for you. These plans often include changes to your lifestyle and recommendations for avoiding the triggers that are causing your allergies.
Because not all allergens can be avoided, there are many allergy medications we can recommend to help you manage your symptoms and lead a more normal way of life. In severe or chronic allergy cases, we can prescribe medication, immunotherapy (allergy shots), antihistamines, and a variety of other treatment methods.
The first step in managing your allergies is to make an appointment with an allergy expert. If you or someone you love experience hay fever, please don’t hesitate to contact our practice. Though your allergies may seem manageable on your own, letting them go untreated can lead to additional and more severe consequences, like ear infections, sinusitis, asthma, and more.