Causes

• Allergies are due to your immune system mistakenly attacking normally harmless substances. The next time you come into contact with them, allergy-causing antibodies prompt the immune system to release chemicals that lead to the well-known symptoms of allergy.
  
  Common seasonal allergens include tree pollen, weed pollen, grass pollen and spores from fungi and molds. Year-round culprits include dust mites, cockroaches, dander (dried skin and saliva) of animals and spores from fungi and mold.
  
  

Symptoms

• Symptoms tend to develop right after contact with an allergen. They include runny nose, nasal congestion, watery and itchy eyes, sneezing, cough, itchy nose, throat and roof of the mouth, sinus pressure, facial pain, swollen, blue-hued skin under the eyes and altered sense of smell and taste. You might also experience sleeplessness, fatigue and irritability.
  
  

Risk Factors and Complications

• Certain factors increase your chances of developing hay fever. They include a family history of allergies, being male, birth during pollen season, being the firstborn, exposure to cigarette smoke during your first 12 months and exposure to dust mites.
  
  Hay fever can make you more susceptible to other conditions including asthma, eczema, sinusitis and ear infection.
  
  

Treatments

• Nasal corticosteroids relieve inflammation; they are often the most effective and first medication administered. Examples include Flonase, Veramyst, Nasonex and Beconase. They are generally safe for long-term use. Oral corticosteroids like prednisone treat severe allergies; serious side effects make them undesirable as a long-term treatment.
  
  Antihistamines act on congestion; they block histamine, a chemical released by your immune system during an allergic attack. Claritin and Zyrtec do not cause as much drownsiness as older ones like Benadryl and Tavist but cost more. These are available without a prescription. Prescription antihistamines include Allegra and Astelin.
  
  Decongestants come in prescription and over-the-counter form. You can easily buy Sudafed, Actifed or Drixoral in a drugstore. Prescription nasal sprays include Neo-Synephrine and Afrin. Avoid oral decongestants if you have high blood pressure; they also aggravate symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
  
  You might need allergy shots if other measures cannot relieve your symptoms; a course of treatment lasts three to five years and aims to desensitize you from certain allergens. Nasal lavage involves rinsing out your nose with salt water. Saline nasal sprays and nasal lavage kits, both available in drug stores and supermarkets, can relieve congestion and remove irritating substances from your nasal passages.
  
  

Alternative Treatments

• Certain herbs have a long history of use in treating allergies but have not been extensively studied. You should consult with a doctor to determine if they are appropriate treatments. Treatments include butterbur, stinging nettle, cat's claw, goldenseal and belladonna.
  
  Some people claim eating locally grown bee pollen has helped them; you should consult with a doctor before trying this treatment since you can have a dangerous reaction. Anecdotal evidence suggests acupuncture and hypnosis can relieve hay fever but it has not been proven.
  
  

Prevention

• Right now, no proven way to get rid of hay fever exists but you can take certain measures to reduce your exposure to offending elements.
  
  For pollens and mold, close your doors and windows during pollen season, use allergy grade filters in your ventilation system and stay indoors on dry, windy days. For dust mites, get allergy-proof covers for your mattress and pillows and vacuum weekly with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter. If you are highly sensitive, consider removing carpet. To prevent cockroaches in your home, block cracks and crevices, fix faucets and pipes, wash dishes and throw out your garbage daily and store food in sealed containers. If pet dander is causing your allergies, bathe your pets weekly and use cleaning wipes made to reduce dander.