Everything you need to know about hay fever

Hay fever is an allergy that affects the nose. It is also known as allergic rhinitis. When the nose and/or eyes come in contact with environmental allergens like pollen, dust mite, moulds, and animal hair, you get hay fever. A person with hay fever is allergic to some of the particles that get trapped in the nose – pollen. An allergic reaction means that your immune system treats a harmless substance as dangerous and attacks it. So, the nasal passages tend to become inflamed and more mucus is produced.

A lot of factors add up to the risk of getting hay fever. These include genetic predisposition, asthma, history of allergy, so on and so forth. A recent study published in the journal Nature Genetics revealed new risk factors associated with hay fever: Loci, the position of a gene on a particular chromosome. The study roped in 900,000 participants.

Symptoms include continuous sneezing, coughing, and a runny or blocked nose. It also includes watery eyes, loss of smell, headache and earache, fatigued, itchy throat, mouth, and nose, are some of the symptoms one may experience if he/she is suffering from hay fever.
It is important to include antioxidants in the diet to prevent oneself from hay fever. Quercetin belongs to a group of plant pigments which can be termed as flavonoids. Various studies suggest that it can help prevent the release of histamine, which is an inflammatory chemical involved in allergy symptoms such as sneezing and itching. Foods like mackerel, salmon, walnuts and chia seeds are abundant in omega-3 fatty acids and can help people with allergic rhinitis. This is so because omega-3s are rich in anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce inflammation.
Furthermore, according to a study conducted by The University of Florida, probiotics had a positive effect on hay fever symptoms. According to the research, the good bacteria found in probiotics can help reduce your body’s immune response to allergens like pollen.