Hay Fever - Symptoms and Remedies

Grass allergy is one of the more common type of allergies which affects people having its histories during the spring and summer seasons. The grass allergies are related to hay fever as symptoms and causes are identical.

If you have a grass allergy, you should learn and understand how to live with this allergy so that you could enjoy being outdoors or sitting in your garden. It's about quality of life.


Symptoms of the allergic reaction

Allergy take place when your body's immune system over reacts to a substance that it sees as a potential health danger.

The most common indication of a grass allergy is sneezing, watery eyes, and runny nose, what is also called rhinitis. Rhinitis is a condition in which the lining of the nose, back of the mouth and throat is inflamed. The allergic rhinitis is a very common condition that many individuals suffer as a result of pollen, dust or other airborne particles.

This rhinitis is caused by an increase in histamine, and this is most often caused by airborne allergens.

Further, many persons with pollen allergies also suffer from other types of allergies.


Grass - an allergen

Grass pollen was detected for the first time as likely trigger of periodic hay fever in late 19th century. There are more than one thousand variations of grass but only a few causes an allergic reaction which could make it difficult to diagnos a grass sensitivity without proper examination.

Grass-like plants are among the most flexible life forms on earth. Plants having grass-like structures have subsisted for millions of years. Unfortunately, for some of us this makes it quite hard to avoid exposure to grass pollen.


Treatments

Principally there are three kinds of treatments available. The first one is somewhat obvious - if you have a grass allergy, you might attempt to staying away from the grasses that promote your rhinitis. This is often much easier said than done, but you should at least go inside when your neighbor cuts the lawn

The second kind of treatment include medication taken on a regular basis, and among the most effective treatments for hay fever are nasal sprays (antihistaminic and/or cortisone) and antihistaminic tablets. If taken regularly, these medications help you to relieve the sneezing, runny nose and itching eyes caused by the hay fever. This treatment can improve your quality of life dramatically.


The third treatment is immunotherapy, a remedy which treats the underlying cause of the allergic reaction. Immunotherapy begins with subcutaneous injections of a tiny quantity of grass allergen, slowly increasing the dose until your immune system starts to tolerate exposure without producing an allergic reaction. This is a treatment that can take years to conclude, but the benefits are long lasting.

Read more about allergies and hay fever at Allergy Symptoms and Treatments.