Hay Fever Health Video

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, can cause cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, congestion, sneezing or sinus pressure. However, unlike a cold, hay fever isn't caused by a virus. It's caused by an allergic response to specific substances in your environment. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for hay fever in this health video.

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Use over-the-counter medications
If this persists contact doctor
Contact an allergy specialist
Shower regularly

About this Author

Dr. Susan McGladdery is a medical graduate from Oxford University in the UK and has a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Cambridge University. She has been a member of the Royal College of Physicians since 1991 and a member of the American Academy of Urgent Care since 2006. She trained as a Family Physician in the UK in Oxford and then in London. In a medical career that spans over 20 years, she has worked as a doctor in 5 countries on 3 continents and cared for patients from a multitude of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dr. McGladdery joined FirstMed Centers in mid 2002 and became Regional Medical Director in 2003.

SUSAN MCGLADERRY, BM, BCH, MRCP: Hello. My name is Dr. Sue McGladerry. I'm the medical director from FirstMed Centers in Budapest, Hungary. I'd like to give you a little bit of information about hay fever. Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is a collection of symptoms predominantly affecting the nose and the eyes. It is caused by pollen. Allergic rhinitis is commonly called hay fever. Briefly, what happens, the immune system normally protects the body against harmful substances such as bacteria and viruses. Allergies are caused by an oversensitive immune response to harmless substance or allergens. So specifically what it causing hay fever? Usually small hard-to-see pollens are the source. They come from trees which may be deciduous or evergreen trees and also from grasses and ragweed. The type of pollen causing allergy varies from person to person. Also, the symptoms in any individual will vary depending on the amount of pollen in the air. Hot dry windy days will generally be much worse than a cool, damp, and rainy day. Commonly, there will be itchy nose and eyes, a running nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. There may also be sore throat, headache, cough, and wheezing. So when do you need to seek medical advice? Many people can manage their mild symptoms just using simple over-the-counter medications but if this doesn't work for you, you should see your doctor for advice on further treatment. You may need to consult an allergy specialist for a more accurate and complete diagnosis. Regarding treatment, there are various options available. These include things like antihistamine tablets, steroids sprays for the nose and antihistamine eye drops. Trying to minimize the allergen exposure also helps, so for example you can wear a hat when you go outside and use sunglasses. It's also a good idea to shower in the evening before you go to bed to remove any pollen from the skin. If your symptoms are more severe and you're having trouble in controlling them, you should talk to your doctor. It may be that allergy testing followed by desensitization treatment will be the right course of action for you.

Hay Fever Health Video

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