Hay Fever | Things That Help With Your Symptoms

Approximately fifteen to twenty percent of the United States population suffers from some form of hay fever. Hay fever is primarily caused from pollens in specific seasonal plants, airborne dust, and even chemical particles. It is basically an allergic reaction triggered by the way your immune system responds to the air particles in which you breathe. Usually hay fever refers to allergies to outdoor airborne particles like mold and most commonly pollen.

There are many ways one can prevent and treat hay fever. The best way to prevent hay fever is to avoid exposure to pollen altogether. Avoiding pollen in the morning and in the evening is a very effective way to prevent the onset of these troublesome allergies. Keeping your windows closed and the air conditioner on in your house when you can is a good prevention method as well. By avoiding exposure to plants containing pollens you will ultimately notice your symptoms diminish. Placing a small amount of pretroleum jelly around your eyes before exposure to the pollen is a good way to prevent hay fever symptoms from occuring. The most beneficial way to treat hay fever is to avoid all substances containing pollen, if possible. Medication is always another effective treatment and depends on the severity of your symptoms.

Types Of Medication That Can Help

There are a few types of medication available to assist you with your hay fever. One option is a fast acting antihistamine like the one known as chlorphenamine. Chlorphenamine can relieve hay fever symptoms soon after the onset of a hay fever attack. Another option is a short acting antihistamine which can be primarily found over the counter. These common antihistamines can relieve mild to moderate symptoms, but be advised that these tend to cause marked drowsiness. Longer acting antihistamines tend to cause less drowsiness and are easily taken once daily. A topical decongestant is another form of medicine that can be helpful with reducing the symptoms, however this type should not be used for a prolonged period of time. Using this topical medicine for an extended period of time could lead to rebound nasal congestion.

Allergy shots or immunotherapy may be a recommended form of treatment for your hay fever symptoms by your doctor or allergist. This is quite affective for those people who suffer from severe symptoms. Allergy shots are usually for those who do not benefit from the other available treatments as well as those individuals who can not completely avoid the allergens. Allergy shot treatments are given in increased dosages, with each one slightly larger than the previous one. The increased dosages aids the body with its adjustment to the antigen. A doctor usually precsribes the immunotherapy as a last option because this type of medication can be quite costly.

Your doctor is the best person to help you determine the right treatment for you. If you feel you are experiencing hay fever symptoms be sure to consult with your physician before beginning any treatment. One medication may work better for your situation than another. Trying to avoid the pollen altogether is the best way to avoid a reaction and is obviously the one that costs less.