Is hay fever genetic?
Yes, hay fever has a strong genetic component. Research shows that if your parents or siblings suffer from hay fever, you're significantly more likely to develop it too. However, genetics isn't the whole story—environmental factors like pollen exposure, dust, and air pollution also play a role in whether you actually develop the condition.
Key points:
- Scientists have identified over 130 genetic risk variants shared between hay fever, asthma, and eczema that affect how your immune system works.
- Twin studies suggest genetics accounts for between 33% and 82% of hay fever risk, depending on the population studied.
- If both your parents have allergies, your chance of developing hay fever increases to 60-80%, compared to one in five if neither parent is affected.
- Your genes alone don't guarantee you'll get hay fever; environmental exposure to allergens is also needed for the condition to develop.
This text has been fact-checked for accuracy by medino's clinical team.