8 Common Signs Of Hay Fever

An allergic response to airborne allergens causes hay fever or allergic rhinitis. These allergens may include dust mites, pet dander, and pollen. By knowing some of the signs of hay fever, you can take the necessary precautions to treat it and avoid triggering this reaction. Here are eight common signs of hay fever.

1. Runny or blocked nose

When the body feels attacked by allergens, it releases chemical histamines to fight off these potentially dangerous elements. This, in turn, causes inflammation and irritation in the nasal passage. If it occurs in the narrow airways, this will cause a blocked nose, and the extra secretion produced causes a runny nose. You can buy Fexofenadine and other effective antihistamine tablets, nasal corticosteroids, and decongestants for relief. 

2. Sore, dry, and itchy throat

A sore, dry, itchy throat is another common symptom of hay fever that usually accompanies a blocked nose. When your nose is congested, you are forced to breathe through your mouth. The fine hairs called cilia and mucus lining your nose warm the air that enters it. However, when you breathe through your mouth, the cold air dries up the moisture created by saliva making your throat dry. It becomes itchy due to the pollen entering your mouth and sore due to dry and itchy combinations over an extended time. 

3. Sneezing

Your nose has the task of filtering dust and other pollutants from the air you breathe. The mucus and hairs that line the nose trap dirt, bacteria, and debris. However, sometimes these particles may enter the nasal passage, irritating the sensitive mucous membrane of the nose. This causes the body to react by causing you to sneeze to push the allergens out. 

4. Headache

Headaches are a common symptom of hayfever yet very frustrating. The headache associated with hay fever is known as a sinus headache. When the body comes in contact with elements that trigger an allergic response, the four sinus cavities become inflamed, leading to an increase in the volume and thickness of the fluid it produces. This then causes pressure that develops into a headache.  

5. Allergic conjunctivitis

This occurs when the eyes become itchy, watery, and red. When pollen or any form of airborne allergen comes in contact with the eye, your body reacts to this by causing you to itch. This warns your body of the foreign bodies present and releases a chemical compound called histamine, which irritates nerve endings. Your eyes get red after they have been itchy due to the swelling of the blood vessels on the eye’s white outer surface – a response to fighting the allergen. Lastly, your eyes become watery to flush out the allergen. 

6. Cough

When your body comes into contact with allergens such as pollen or pet dander, it is most likely that some of it may make its way down the throat. It may irritate the air passages, and your body responds to this by coughing to clear the allergen. 

7. Blocked ears

The overproduction of histamines when the body comes into contact with allergens can cause congestion in the ears. The Eustachian tube’s mucous lining is irritated, causing an interruption in the drainage of fluid from the middle ear to the throat. This creates the sensation of a blocked ear. 

8. Fatigue

The release of the histamine is what causes fatigue and is usually a symptom of seasonal hay fever. The body weakens in overall performance as it works to fight the allergens it comes into contact with. This leads to an overworked nervous system causing the above symptoms. These symptoms, in turn, make it difficult for you to rest, which causes fatigue. 

Photo by Matteus Silva de Oliveira from Pexels