As we transition from colder to warmer seasons, it’s generally accepted that a significant portion of the population will be affected by hay fever. However, it is possible for hay fever to develop in both children and adults. As such, it’s important for everyone to be aware of the mild symptoms of hay fever so they can notice the onset of the condition and take appropriate steps to combat the effects.
What is hay fever?
Most of us are familiar with hay fever and its associated symptoms, which include:
- Sneezing.
- Watery and itchy eyes.
- Redness around the eyes and nose.
- Blocked or runny nose.
- Scratchy throat and mouth.
This is caused by an allergic reaction to pollen in the air, which is triggered when it is breathed in. Hay fever is a largely seasonal allergy, as its symptoms come and go depending on how high the pollen count is. At the time of writing there is no cure for hay fever, although there are a number of treatment options that can provide relief. Those who are asthmatic may experience worse symptoms, such as shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, or a persistent cough.
How to tell if you have hay fever
You can of course go through the list of symptoms above to see if you might be suffering from hay fever. However, the presence of these symptoms isn’t enough to guarantee that you have hay fever. This is because hay fever is just one type of allergic rhinitis, and it can be possible for people to show similar symptoms due to reactions with a different allergen.
Let’s instead look more closely at what causes hay fever. Pollen in the air is most dense during spring and summer (roughly from the end of March to September). As such, it’s likely that if you are experiencing hay fever symptoms consistently during these months then you have hay fever. If the symptoms flare up when you go outside, this can also be a strong indication of hay fever.
Hay fever treatments
The first step in getting treated for hay fever is to seek out public or private GP services. Here you’ll get advice from a trained professional and, in the case of private clinics, get hay fever relief quickly. A medical professional will be able to recommend treatments based on your situation, such as hay fever nasal spray if symptoms are most acute in the nose.
Private GP consultations Liverpool
At #HEALTH, we have a wide range of resources designed to deal with both specialist conditions and common allergies. Alongside our private GP appointments, we also offer a private healthcheck which is perfect for revealing which allergies you might be suffering from, such as hay fever. Contact us today and a member of our friendly team will be happy to book you a slot to come and see us.