Can you avoid developing hay fever in the first place?
It’s not certain why hay fever happens. But it does seem that there’s a lower risk in people who are exposed to animals early in life, people who grow up on a farm, or those who have lots of brothers and sisters!
What is hay fever?
Hay fever (also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis) is caused by an allergy to pollen. Pollen particles are released into the air by flowers, grasses and trees, particularly in Spring and Summer- causing runny nose, sneezing and itchiness of the throat, eyes and ears. It can be severe in some cases, with bouts of re…
What causes hay fever?
Hay fever happens when a person’s own IgE antibodies attach to an allergen ( i.e. pollen, dust, animal dander or whatever the trigger is for that individual), leading to the release of inflammatory chemicals such as histamine – which in turn cause the tell-tale hay fever symptoms.
