WHAT IS HAY FEVER AND WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?
You might hear seasonal allergies described as “hay fever” from time to time. Actually, it’s what seasonal allergies were called two centuries ago. Take a read below for a quick history on hay fever, and what you can do to keep your symptoms at bay.
HAY FEVER HISTORY
In 1819, John Bostock, and English physician, observes in himself and others symptoms he refers to as "catarrhus aestivus" or "summer catarrh." Catarrh being a general term referring to cold-like discharge from the nose and eyes.¹
Bostock attributes these symptoms to the discharge from new hay, observing that it affects people "annually in the months of April, May, June, or July."
Bostock dubs the condition "hay fever,"¹ and the term sticks.
WHAT CAUSES HAY FEVER?
Understanding how to manage or prevent hay fever symptoms is easier when you know the causes of hay fever. Seasonal hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, can be caused by outdoor wind-borne allergens like pollen from trees, weeds, and grass.² Indoor allergens that can cause hay fever year-round include dust mites, pet dander, and indoor molds – causing what is commonly referred to as perennial allergic rhinitis.²
WHAT CAUSES HAY FEVER?
Today, we refer to hay fever as allergic rhinitis, or seasonal allergies. And as we now know, the top culprit of allergic rhinitis isn’t hay, but the pollen from trees, weeds, and grasses that’s coincidentally released at the same time hay is growing.²
What’s more, millions of Americans experience hay fever symptoms year-round, regardless of when pollen season starts and ends. Year-round symptoms can be caused by indoor allergens, such as dust mites, pet dander, and mold.³
As Bostock correctly observed, the symptoms of hay fever can indeed occur "with great violence" or, rather, they can be awfully unpleasant and disruptive.
And while it is difficult to avoid airborne pollen, certain measures can be taken to minimize the risk of triggering allergy symptoms both outdoors and at home:
Monitor pollen forecasts
Monitoring pollen forecasts will help you understand what you could be in for if you’re planning to spend the day outside. Typically, hot, dry days will have the highest pollen counts, while lower pollen counts are common on cooler, damp days following rain.⁴
Change your clothes
On hotter days when the pollen count is high, change your clothes when you come in from outside. This will reduce your continued exposure to allergens that may have attached themselves to your clothes.⁴
Purify the air
A good air purifier can help if you suffer from allergy symptoms indoors. Choose an air filter that traps small particles.
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Sources:
1. Ramachandran, M., & Aronson, J. John Bostock's First Description of Hayfever. JRSM, 237-240. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3110966/ Accessed May 4, 2019.
2. ACAAI. Allergic Rhinitis. https://acaai.org/allergies/types/hay-fever-rhinitis Accessed May 4, 2019.
3. ACAAI. Indoor Allergens. http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/indoor-allergens Accessed May 4, 2019
4. Allergy Prevention Tips. https://www.pollen.com/allergy-prevention.asp Accessed May 4, 2019.
5. Craig, TJ, et al. Congestion and Sleep Impairment in Allergic Rhinitis. 10.1007/s11882-010-0091-5. Accessed May, 4, 2019.
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