Summer is here and it is time to hit the beach but for many summers can mean itchy and watery eyes, sneezing and wheezing constantly. Yes millions of people suffer from hay fever in the summers. And scientists have predicted that this year more people will be suffering from hay fever than there has ever been. So it is time that you know more about this condition, although you might have a general idea about hay fever but there are still many things that you might not know. Here are 10 things that you probably did not know about hay fever although you do feel the effects once a year.
1. It Is The Histamines That Cause The Symptoms
The symptoms of hay fever in fact come from you yourself. Histamine is produced in the body when your body thinks that the immune system is under attack. When pollen enters your body when you are suffering from hay fever it triggers production of histamine which creates all the unwanted symptoms in your body. That is the reason why anti histamines can help you. But you may want to keep in account that histamines are the things in your brain that keep you alert, awake and attentive, that is the reason why anti histamines can make you drowsy.
2. Hay Fever, Eczema And Asthma Are
The genetic tendency to develop allergy or allergies is called atopy. Hay fever, eczema and asthma all three of these allergies come under the umbrella of atopy. So if you have any one of these you are more likely to develop the other two as well.
3. Hay Fever Is Twice As Common In Cities And Towns As It Is In Countryside
Surprising as it may sound , although in the rural areas the pollen count is much higher, but people in the urban areas suffer more from hay fever. The reason is that the pollen particles in the urban areas bond themselves to the pollutants present in the air which are typically caused by the exhaust fumes and these combined particles play a significant role in setting off allergic reaction in the body.
4. There Are Different Types Of Hay Fever
Hay fever is a term generally used for any kind of allergy caused by pollen. However you may find it surprising that different types of pollen affect different people at different times of the year. The three main types of pollen are
- Tree pollen
- Grass pollen
- Weed pollen
Tree pollen starts in early to late spring, while grass pollen starts affecting in the mid of summer and weed pollen can carry on till early autumn in some regions.
5. Hay Fever Can Treated In A Number Of Ways
People who suffer from hay fever are often unaware of the many remedial and preventive measures that they can use to fight hay fever. The medication comes in a number of different forms such as eye drops, nasal spray and tablets and no matter which one you use all have shown to be highly effective.
According to research starting with antihistamine medication early can help to lessen the symptoms of hay fever when they eventually hit you. Using this pre emptive measure to fight off the allergies can make you feel better and even stop with medication sooner rather than if you start with the medication after the symptoms begin to show.
6. You Don’t Need To Wait For Your Gp To Treat Your Hay Fever
A lot of people have to put up with the debilitating symptoms of hay fever while they wait for a doctor’s appointment. This waiting can prolong your suffering especially if you are living in a place where the waiting list for a doctor’s appointment is long. However there are many medications that are available over the counter which do not need any prescription. You can also order your medication from an online pharmacy if you feel too sick to go and pick up your medicine.
7. It Runs In Family
You can also blame your parents for giving you this allergy apart from all the other things you blame them for. According to research that if the parents suffer from allergies like hay fever the children are most likely to suffer from the condition too.
8. Flowers Are Not The Only Ones To Be Blamed
Generally people blame flowers for hay fever but on the contrary flowers cannot be blamed for the pollen allergies. Pollen allergies are caused by the pollen present in the air or the airborne pollen which has been blown away from the plant itself, by the wind. The pollen present in flowers is coated and sticky so that it can easily attach itself to the bees and other insects for the purpose of fertilisation. This means that flowers produce very little to no airborne pollen. But that does not mean that flowers do not cause hay fever, some people can be extremely allergic to some flowers and you can be allergic to more than one kind of pollen.
9. Sunglasses Can Help
It might seem too simple but many people do not think about wearing sunglasses to stop the pollen from getting into your eyes. The wraparound type of sunglasses are particularly helpful at keeping the airborne pollen away from your eyes.
10. Some Foods Can Trigger Hay Fever
The allergic reaction in and around the mouth area of a person suffering from hay fever is called Oral Allergy Syndrome, this can be a rash, burning or a tingling sensation. This syndrome is caused when the person comes in contact with proteins present in the food that are similar to the proteins found in the pollen that the person suffering from hay fever is allergic to. For example the proteins found in kiwi fruit are similar to the proteins of birch pollen. So if a person who is allergic to birch pollen eats kiwi , the body recognises the protein to be harmful and can trigger an allergic reaction.
