All about Hay-fever|health women for better life

 All about Hay-fever

All about Hay-fever

Those who are lucky enough not to suffer from hay fever often think of it as a relatively minor inconvenience. However, if you are affected, you know that it can cause a great deal of disruption to your daily life, as well as make you feel downright miserable.

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is caused by an allergic reaction to certain substances. Symptoms include runny or blocked nose, sneezing, itchy watery eyes, coughing, headache, fatigue, poor sleep, wheezing, sore throat, irritability, and listlessness. Not only the eyes and nose but also the throat, the ears, and the roof of the mouth can become very itchy.

Other possible effects of hay fever include increased difficulty in controlling asthma and increased vulnerability to sinus infections, and eye infections or conjunctivitis caused by rubbing watery itchy eyes. People also develop bad breath and husky voices along with sore throats.

There is no real cure for hay fever, but management strategies can make it easier to live with. The most important management strategy is to figure out your personal triggers and do your best to avoid them. One of the most common causes of hay fever is airborne pollen. It can be difficult to avoid this, so the best strategy is to listen for the pollen count and stay inside on days when it is high. Other triggers include animal dander, dust mites, cigarette smoke, pollution, perfumes, and mold spores.

Treatment for hay fever can include medication, non-medicated treatment, and immunotherapy. Medications that are effective against the symptoms of hay fever usually contain some form of antihistamine. These counteract the effects of histamines produced by damaged cells during the body’s allergic reaction. Histamines are the direct cause of the itching, irritation, and inflammation which make hay fever sufferers so miserable. Antihistamines can be administered as tablets, nasal sprays, or eye drops. Other medications may include decongestant sprays or tablets, corticosteroid sprays, mast cell stabilizing sprays, and anticholinergic sprays.

Immunotherapy is an attempt to switch off the body’s allergic reaction by gradually exposing it to more and more of the allergen. This is usually done by a series of injections, often over several months or even years. You will need to see an allergy specialist or clinical immunologist for this procedure.

Non-medicated treatments seem to work for some people. These include steam inhalation and saltwater nasal sprays. Supplements including horseradish, garlic, and vitamin C have also been recommended to relieve the symptoms.

Hay fever in children can be difficult to deal with as they can become very tired and irritable due to poor-quality sleep. This can affect their ability to learn and concentrate. Some things you can do to reduce their allergies are to breastfeed where possible, delay the introduction of allergy-producing foods, and limit their exposure to allergens especially cigarette smoke, dust mites, and animal dander.