How To Cure Hay Fever Allergies

Hay Fever Symptoms In Infants And Children

Hay fever is extremely common in children, though they rarely develop before 3 years of age. But its important to treat allergy symptoms, especially in infants and children. Serious hay fever symptoms can develop into long-term health conditions like asthma, sinusitis, or chronic ear infections. Recent studies show that genetics may indicate whether or not your child will develop asthma alongside hay fever.

Younger children may have more trouble dealing with hay fever symptoms. It can affect their concentration and sleeping patterns. Sometimes the symptoms get confused with the common cold. But your child wont have a fever like they might with the cold and the symptoms will persist beyond a few weeks.

Hay fever symptoms often start immediately after youre exposed to a specific allergen. Having these symptoms for more than a few days can cause:

• clogged ears

Experiencing these symptoms over time can have a negative effect on:

• sleep quality
• asthma symptoms
• quality of life as symptoms may make activities less enjoyable, or cause you to be less productive at work and school, or even require you to stay home from work or school
• ear infections, especially in children
• eyes, or allergic conjunctivitis, which occurs when the allergen irritates the membrane over your eye
• sinus inflammation, which can become sinusitis due to persistent congestion

Some patients say that hay fever feels like a cold, especially if it continues for a long period of time and symptoms get worse.

Eye Drops For Hay Fever

Hay fever can cause irritating eye symptoms such as itchy, red, runny and watery eyes. Antihistamine eye drops may help with the control of eye symptoms caused by allergy. Antihistamine eye drops should not be used longer than 6 weeks.

Mast cell stabilisers are another newer type of eye drop that can help control allergic eye symptoms. They have a direct effect on mast cells and prevent them from starting the allergic reaction in the eye. They do not provide immediate relief of allergic eye symptoms, but prevent symptoms occurring in the first place, when used correctly. It may take 3-7 days for them to show an effect.

There are some eye drops that combine an antihistamine with a mast cell stabiliser.

Always check the instructions for whether you should remove your contact lenses before applying eye drops.

How Is Allergic Rhinitis Diagnosed

If your symptoms interfere with your daily life, see your family doctor. Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history and perform a physical exam. Keeping a record of your symptoms over a period of time can help your doctor determine what triggers your allergies.

Your doctor may want to do an allergy skin test to determine what you are allergic to. During an allergy skin test, tiny amounts of allergens are applied to your skin. You will feel tiny pricks to your skin. It is not painful. Your doctor will observe and record the way your skin reacts to each allergen.

Your doctor may also decide to do a blood test, such as the radioallergosorbent test . This test identifies antibodies in your blood that determine what youre allergic to. Once your allergens are identified, you and your doctor can decide the best treatment.

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Can I Prevent Hay Fever

There is no way to prevent hay fever, but lifestyle changes can help you live with allergies. You can relieve hay fever symptoms by avoiding irritants as much as possible. To reduce symptoms, you should:

• Avoid touching your face and rubbing your eyes or nose.
• Close windows in your home and car during the spring, summer and early fall when pollen counts are higher.
• Enclose pillows, mattresses and box springs in dust mite covers.
• Keep pets off couches and beds, and close doors to bedrooms you dont want them to enter.
• Use filters in your vacuum cleaner and air conditioner to reduce the amount of allergens in the air.
• Wash your hands often, especially after playing with pets.
• Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes from pollen when youre outside. Change your clothes as soon as you come indoors.

If You Have Daily Symptoms And Antihistamines Arent Enough

Rx to try: A nasal steroid spray is your best bet because it reduces inflammation. It can also relieve watery, itchy eyes and help stave off a congestion-related headache. Steroid sprays include prescription-only versions, such as fluticasone propionate and mometasone furoate . One spray, triamcinolone acetonide, is also available over-the-counter as Nasacort Allergy 24HR. More effective than antihistamines for severe symptoms, steroid sprays are considered the gold-standard treatment for allergies. They can help prevent the nasal inflammation caused by daily exposure to pollen, Dykewicz said. For the best results, start using sprays at the beginning of the allergy season . The sprays take up to 12;hours to work, and you may not experience the full effect for a week.

Some doctors are concerned that using a steroid spray on your own can increase the chance of side effects, or mask a more serious condition, such as asthma. The side effects include nasal dryness and irritation, sore throat, headache, and bleeding sores in your nose. Improper use can lead to a hole in your septum in rare cases, and long-term use may increase the risk of cataracts or glaucoma. When I put people on prescription nasal sprays, I like to see them back in the office so I can check the lining of their nose to make sure everything looks OK, Dykewicz said. See your doctor if youre using an over-the-counter steroid spray for more than a month, you have side effects, or your symptoms dont improve.

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What Causes Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis occurs when your bodys immune system reacts to an irritant in the air. The irritants are so tiny that you can easily inhale them through your nose or mouth.

Allergens are harmless to most people. But if you have hay fever, your immune system thinks the allergen is intruding. The immune system tries to protect your body by releasing natural chemicals into your bloodstream. The main chemical is called histamine. It causes mucous membranes in the nose, eyes and throat to become inflamed and itchy as they work to eject the allergen.

Seasonal and perennial allergies can result from many allergens, including:

• Dust mites that live in carpets, drapes, bedding and furniture.
• Pollen from trees, grass and weeds.
• Pet dander .
• Mold spores.
• Cockroaches, including their saliva and waste.

Food allergies can also cause inflammation in the nose and throat. If you think youre having an allergic reaction to something you ate, get medical help right away. Food allergies can be life-threatening.

Why Does An Allergic Reaction Occur

An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system attacks a usually harmless substance called an allergen that gains access to the body. The immune system calls upon a protective substance called immunoglobulin E antibodies to fight these invading allergic substances or allergens. Even though everyone has some IgE, an allergic person has an unusually large amount of IgE. This army of IgE antibodies attacks and engages the invading army of allergic substances of allergens.

Specialized cells called mast cells also participate in the allergic reaction. Mast cells release a variety of chemicals into the tissues and blood, one of which is known as histamine. These chemicals frequently cause allergic reactions. These chemicals are very irritating and cause itching, swelling, and fluid leaking from cells. Through various mechanisms, these allergic chemicals can cause muscle spasm and can lead to lung and throat tightening as is found in asthma and loss of voice .

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Hay Fever Management And Treatment

Avoid triggers by making changes to your home and to your behavior.

• Keep windows closed during high pollen periods; use air conditioning in your home and car.
• Wear glasses or sunglasses when outdoors to keep pollen out of your eyes.
• Use mite-proof bedding covers to limit exposure to dust mites and a dehumidifier to control mold. .
• Wash your hands after petting any animal, and have a nonallergic person help with pet grooming, preferably in a well-ventilated area or outside.

What people dont realize is most of the over-the-counter medicines are designed for milder allergies. For the people who have more moderate to severe allergy problems, its very rare that over the counter medicines are enough.

Allergist James Sublett, MD

Will It Help If I Avoid Pollen

It is impossible to avoid pollen totally. However, symptoms tend to be less severe if you reduce your exposure to pollen. The pollen count is the number of pollen grains per cubic metre of air. The pollen count is often given with TV, radio, internet, or newspaper weather forecasts. A high pollen count is a count above 50.

You can check the current pollen forecast here.;The following may help when the pollen count is high:

• Stay indoors as much as possible and keep windows and doors shut.
• Avoid cutting grass, large grassy places and camping.
• Shower and wash your hair after being outdoors, especially after going to the countryside.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses when you are out.
• Keep car windows closed and consider buying a pollen filter for the air vents in your car. These should be changed at every service.

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Hay Fever Can Cause Fullness In The Ears

The inner ears contain fluid that is sensitive to barometric pressure changes. Youre probably aware of this is youve ever taken off from Charleston International Airport, driven through the mountains or gone scuba diving. The popping sensation you feel is the result of the pressure outside your ears dropping while the pressure in your ears stays the same.

In addition to draining fluids, your Eustachian tubes are responsible for regulating pressure changes. When seasonal allergies cause the Eustachian tubes to swell, it makes this job difficult, causing a feeling of fullness in the ear.

Menieres disease is an inner ear condition related to too much fluid in the inner ear, which triggers episodes of hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo and a feeling of fullness in the ear. Its common for people with this condition to experience increased or worse episodes in the springtime if they have allergies. To learn more about how spring allergies can affect your ears or to schedule an appointment with an ear or allergy expert, call ENT & Allergy Partners today.

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Some Lifestyle Changes To Adopt

In addition to the above, take the following precautions :

• Consume less of refined and processed foods, fats and oils. Increase intake of fresh vegetables and fruits.
• Drink lots of water.
• Stay away from humid places and dampness.
• Do pranayama or yogic breathing exercises.
• Change bed linen every few days during this season.
• Take extra supplementation of Vitamin C and E. Preferably, eat fruits rich in Vitamin C like the citrus fruits.
• Reduce or better still stop consuming white sugar. and aerated drinks.
• Try doing Jal Neti. It is the practice of passing warm saline water through one nostril until it comes out of the other nostril. Then do it the other way around. Learn to do it correctly from a naturopathy canter.It removes the pollen that has lodges in the nostrils and reduces the allergy symptoms.

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Learn Which Foods And Nutrients Reduce Histamine And Improve Immune Function

Hay fever is a common condition that occurs in spring and early summer due to the pollen from trees and certain grasses. Ragweed in late summer, early autumn can also trigger hay fever. Symptoms vary in severity from person to person, including itchy eyes, nose and throat, watery eyes, sneezing, congestion, sinus pressure and discharge from the nose. Some people also experience, headaches, coughing, wheezing, swollen eyes and irritability. Learn how to relieve hay fever naturally and which foods and nutrients reduce histamine and improve immune function. Use diet, naturopathic remedies and herbal medicine to banish your hay fever symptoms.

What Are The Ways In Which You Can Ease Your Symptoms

1.Start Staying indoors: One of the best hay fever treatment is by staying indoors at all times and keeping your doors and windows closed.

Usually, when you go out, a lot of pollutants can affect your body and that will aggravate your allergic rhinitis.

You can take a clean shower and cleanse your nostrils, and remove your clothes, so that you can remain allergen-free, completely.

2. Nasal-Washing can be great ease: If the hay fever is causing a lot of problems, you can easily try getting your nose cleaned with warm saline water. This is an excellent home remedy to get rid of the excess mucus as well as the allergens.

They cause a great deal of irritation, while you are doing your daily activities. You can use a neti-pot or a squeeze bottle to get this done.

3.Try Applying some Petroleum Jelly: This is one more way, in which you can ease the irritation and the feeling.

When you apply some petroleum jelly to your nose, it eases the stuffy nose and also helps you with inflammation. The petroleum jelly can also help with the dryness, caused by continuous blowing.

4. Do not underestimate the symptoms: If you keep on underestimating the symptoms, you will not make headway and this may escalate to asthma in the future or other respiratory disorders.

Hence, if you want a permanent fix, you will have to take necessary precautions & look for effective hay fever treatment before the condition worsen.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Allergic Rhinitis

Hay fever symptoms can appear throughout the year. Outdoor allergies are worse in the spring, summer and early fall. In warm weather, weeds and flowers bloom, and pollen counts are higher. Indoor allergies, such as those that result from pet dander and dust mites, can get worse in winter because people spend more time indoors.

Symptoms of hay fever include:

• Nasal stuffiness , sneezing and runny nose.
• Itchy nose, throat and eyes.
• Headaches, sinus pain and dark circles under the eyes.
• Increased mucus in the nose and throat.
• Fatigue and malaise .
• Sore throat from mucus dripping down the throat .
• Wheezing, coughing and trouble breathing.

What Are The Various Types Of Hay Fever

Historically speaking, there are usually two types of hay fever

• Perennial;
• Seasonal

Seasonal allergies are usually caused due to external allergens like pollen grains, which is caused during the spring or fall season.

Perennial allergies can happen anytime, during the year due to dust particles, mold, pet hair, etc. from inside the house, too.

While looking for hay fever treatment one must keep in mind the medical history of the patient & the type of hay fever he is suffering from.

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Is It Allergies Or A Cold

Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between allergies and the common cold. There are more than a hundred strains of cold viruses. Each tends to become widespread at certain times of the year, which is why you may mistake a cold for a seasonal allergy. Allergies occur at the same time every year and last as long as the allergen is in the air . Allergies cause itching of the nose and eyes along with other nasal symptoms. Colds last about one week and have less itching of the nose and eyes.

Having Trouble With Hay Fever

If youre tired of hay fever getting in the way of your day, our doctors are here to help.

Once theyve discussed what your symptoms are and when they appear, theyll recommend the best hayfever relief treatment available, from lifestyle changes to prescription medication.

If you do need a prescription, our doctors can provide this immediately and well arrange for your medication to be available the same day.

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How Allergies Affect Your Ears Nose And Throat

EarsNoseThroat

The best way to avoid your symptoms is to avoid what causes your allergies in the first place. ;With help from our Hagerstown, MD ENT doctor, you can successfully control and alleviate your allergy symptoms. ;Dr. Kirby Scott will perform various tests in order to come to a proper diagnosis, allowing you to breathe easily once again.

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When Is Pollen Season

Some people are allergic to one type of pollen, while others are unfortunate enough to suffer symptoms caused by all three.

To find out which types of pollen cause your allergic reaction, it helps to know when each one has its peak season.

According to the Met Office, the UK hay fever season lasts from late March all the way through to September. This is how theyve broken it down across the year. Your personal hay fever season will depend on the type of pollen youre allergic to.

• Tree pollen: late March – mid May
• Grass pollen: mid May – July
• Weed pollen: late June – September

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Symptoms Of Fluid In Ears

Fluid in the ear, often called Otitis Media with effusion or glue ear, occurs when liquid accumulates in the middle ear as a result of swelling or a blockage in the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the throat. Although anyone can get fluid in their ears, children are much more susceptible to it due to the fact that their auditory tube is smaller and more horizontal than that of an adult. In fact, 90 out of 100 children will experience fluid in their ears at some point before the age of 5 or 6. The most causes of this, in both children and adults are allergies, congestion from a cold or other virus, enlarged sinus tissue, exposure to chemical irritants, previous damage to the auditory tube, a rapid change in ambient air pressure, or oral abnormalities, such as those associated with down syndrome or a cleft palate. If you suspect you or your child has something in their ear, its best to consult with a doctor, as it can often be hard to diagnose, although treatment is fairly simple, as the condition usually improves on its own. This type of ear condition may not cause the obvious symptoms, like drainage and severe pain, that are associated with an ear infection, but some of the most noticeable signs of it are loss of hearing, the feeling that the ear is full, loss of balance, and more.

1. Ear Pain