What Are The Symptoms Of Hay Fever?
If you go outside and suddenly find yourself sneezing, blowing your nose or seeing the world through watery, itchy eyes then you could be one of the millions of Americans that suffer from hay fever. Hay fever also referred to as allergic rhinitis, causes flare-ups that happen either seasonally or occur all year long, and is usually the result of common indoor and outdoor allergens such as pet dander, pollen, and dust. Unfortunately, hay fever can be severe enough to impact everyday tasks including school or work performance. If hay fever is ruling your life, Dr. Sheen and his team of allergy experts are here to help.
Warning signs of hay fever include,
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Watery, itchy and red eyes
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Postnasal drip
- Fatigue
Your symptoms may occur at any time of the year or you may notice that symptoms get worse during certain seasons. For example, those who are allergic to grass may notice flare-ups during late spring and summer, while those who are allergic to pollen may suffer more during the fall. It’s important to recognize when symptoms occur. Despite the name, people with hay fever don’t actually develop a fever.
If your symptoms are mild then you may find relief through over-the-counter allergy medications; however, if medications aren’t providing you with relief from your symptoms or if you have another condition such as asthma, which makes your hay fever symptoms worse, then you’ll want to turn to us for help. Dr. Sheen has over three decades of experience treating allergies in children and adults. He can design an individualized treatment plan that will help you gain control over your hay fever in the long run.
While there is no way to prevent hay fever from happening, you can lessen symptoms by avoiding triggering allergens as much as possible. Of course, in order to avoid these offending allergens, you have to first determine what allergens are causing your symptoms. This is something that Dr. Sheen and his team can determine through a simple skin prick test.
Limiting exposure to allergen is one of the best ways to reduce hay fever flare-ups. Those with moderate to severe hay fever may require prescription antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, decongestants, and other allergy medications to fully control their symptoms and improve their quality of life. If you find that medication isn’t providing you with the relief you need then you may want to consider allergy shots or immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is usually most effective for those dealing with hay fever caused by pollen, dust mites, and pet dander.