Hay fever affects up to 30% of all Americans, including up to 40% of children and 10%-30% of adults. Over $1 billion is spent each year in the US to treat this disorder, and millions of school and work days each year are lost by sufferers of hay fever symptoms.

What is hay fever?

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis or ”irritation of the nose” is caused by a reaction to allergens in the air such as pollens, mold spores, dust, and animal dander. Allergic rhinitis which occurs during a specific season is called “seasonal allergic rhinitis” and when it occurs throughout the year, it is called “perennial allergic rhinitis.” Allergic rhinitis can lead to other diseases such as sinusitis and asthma.
In early spring, pollinating trees are the main culprits for causing hay fever.  Over the summer, grasses and weeds produce the pollen.  And in the fall weeds are mostly to blame, with ragweed being the main culprit.
Pollen consists of the male cells of flowering plans.  Pollen from garden flowers usually doesn't cause allergies, since this type of pollen is large and waxy and most often carried by insects. Small, light, dry pollens produced by trees, grasses, and weeds spread with the wind and can lead to allergic symptoms.

What are the symptoms of hay fever?

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, frequently include:

• Nasal congestion                                      ▪  A clear, runny nose
• Sneezing                                                   ▪  Nose and eye itching
• Coughing                                                 ▪  Excess tear production in the eyes

Loss of the sense of smell is common, and loss of taste sense occurs occasionally. Nose bleeding may occur if the condition is severe. Eye itching, redness, and excess tears in the eyes frequently accompany the nasal symptoms.

What can I do to prevent hay fever?

Your doctor can help you determine whether treatments are necessary, such as prescription or nonprescription antihistamines to control the symptoms of hay fever. Whether or not you take medication for hay fever, you can take steps to reduce the severity of your symptoms.

1. Dust-proof your environment.  Household dust contains pollens. So, to reduce symptoms, minimize the dust in indoor environment.
2. Always bathe and wash hair before bedtime (pollen can collect on skin and hair throughout the day).
3. Wash bed sheets weekly in hot water to remove any deposited pollens.
4. Do not hang clothes outside to dry where they can trap pollens.
5. Avoid yard work activities that stir up pollen.  Mowing the lawn, raking, or other types of yard work stir up large amounts of pollen.  Hire someone to take care of the yard. If you cannot afford help, wear a pollen-filtering mask while working outdoors.
6. Keep the grass short.  Have the grass cut 2 inches or shorter so it can’t pollinate.
7. Be aware of local pollen counts in your area (this information can often be found in the local newspaper in the weather section or you can access the National Allergy Bureau's pollen count information at www.aaaai.org/nab/index.cfm
8. Stay indoors during peak pollen times.  Pollen counts are highest on warm, dry, breezy days, usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  The best times to be outdoors are very early morning (when dew is on the plants), evening, during and after rain, or on cloudy, humid, or windless days.
9. Keep doors, windows and car windows closed.
10. Use air conditioner in both if possible rather than opening windows. You can buy a special high-efficiency particulate accumulator filter called a HEPA filter that will remove most of the pollen from the air.
11. Perform a thorough spring cleaning of your home, including replacing heating and air conditioner’s filters and cleaning ducts and vents.
12. Check bathrooms and other damp areas in your home frequently for mold and mildew, and remove visible mold with cleaners that kill and prevent mold and mildew. Make sure to read the product’s label carefully before use to ensure it kills mold and mildew.
13. Keep pets out of the bedroom and off of furniture, since they may carry pollen if they have been outdoors.
14. Don’t wear your contact lenses when the pollen count is high.  Tiny pollen particles can get under the lenses and irritate your eyes.
15. Rinse your nose with salt-water.  After you’re exposed to pollens, use a salt-water rinse or nasal spray to cleanse your nose.

Sources:
American of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI): http://www.aaaai.org/
MedicineNet:  http://www.medicinenet.com/hay_fever/article.htm
WebMd: http://www.webmd.com/allergies/living-with-allergies-10/rhinitis?page=1