What Is The Cause Of Hay Fever?

Hay Fever is a common allergy caused by the allergic person's reaction to allergens that have entered their body. When these allergens enter their body (typically through breathing air), antibodies are released to fight off what it perceives to be a foreign invader. While the reason for this is not always known, this reaction will likely cause some cold-like symptoms including sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion, and even hives. Some people who suffer from these allergies will experience symptoms all year but others will only have problems when they come into contact with pollen, usually during peak pollen season. In this case it is best to avoid all contact with pollen to keep the symptoms to a minimum.

Pollen is the most common cause of hay fever allergies but there are other allergens that can trigger a response as well. Mold can cause an allergic reaction in a similar way to pollen. Mold spores float through the air and are ingested when they come into contact with someone. The difficult thing about mold is it grows both indoors and outdoors, all year round. Mold thrives in damp areas like basements and attics, so it is best to increase the air circulation in those areas as well as keep humidity as low as possible.

Other popular hay fever allergens are dust and pet dander. Both of these are usually causing more problems indoors, especially during the colder months when the windows are closed all day. Unlike pollen that floats around the air outside, you can control the allergens that are inside your home. By dusting and vacuuming with a HEPA equipped vacuum frequently, you can help keep dust and dander at a minimum. By reducing contact with them you will be far less likely to experience any allergy symptoms.

One other cause of hay fever allergies that is not common knowledge is heredity. If hay fever or even asthma run in your family then the likelihood of you having an allergy increases. It is also likely that you will develop it when you are a child, with the severity of the symptoms lowering as you get older. There currently is no cure for hay fever but there are medications that can help with the symptoms. Avoiding contact with the allergens is also a great way to avoid any future allergic reactions.

Now that you know the common causes of hay fever you can try to avoid them should you have the typical symptoms. As mentioned above there are things that can help you reduce the chances of a reaction, but some things like heredity are out of your control. If you experience the worst symptoms during peak pollen season then you should avoid the trees and flowers in your area that give off the most pollen. Keep your indoors as clean as you can, especially if you have a dog or cat as their dander can trigger a reaction.