What is hay fever?
Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction that occurs when your immune system overreacts to allergens in the air, such as pollen. When you come into contact with these allergens, your immune system releases chemicals called histamines, which cause uncomfortable symptoms like sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, and itchy eyes. It is not contagious and typically occurs during specific seasons when pollen counts are high.
Key points:
- Hay fever is caused by your immune system mistakenly identifying harmless pollen as dangerous and overreacting to it.
- Common triggers include pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds, with grass pollen being the most frequent cause.
- In the UK, hay fever season typically runs from late March to early September, when pollen levels are highest.
- Symptoms usually improve when you're no longer exposed to the allergen that triggers your reaction.
This text has been fact-checked for accuracy by medino's clinical team.