Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is an allergic reaction caused by the body's immune response to environmental triggers that results in sneezing, congestion, itchy nose, and watery eyes. Triggers of allergic rhinitis include pollen, pet dander, mold and insects. Breathing these in may cause your body to react by releasing a chemical called histamine, resulting in the cold-like symptoms.
Allergic rhinitis is not contagious and it is not the same as infectious rhinitis, otherwise known as the common cold.
Allergic rhinitis symptoms can appear throughout the year. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis and the cold are similar but there are some differences. Itchy, red and watery eyes are common with allergies, but not as prevalent in colds. A cold is more likely to result in muscle aches, pain, or a fever.
Allergic rhinitis occurs when your body's immune system reacts to an environmental trigger in the air. These irritants (allergens) are so tiny that it can be easily inhaled through your nose or mouth. Allergens are usually harmless to people but if you have allergic rhinitis, your immune system will think the allergens are intruding and launch an attack on them to protect your body, by releasing histamine into your bloodstream. This causes the mucus membrane in your eyes, nose and throat to become inflamed and itchy as they work to remove the allergen from your body.
These allergens come in many form, including:
There is no way to definitively prevent allergic rhinitis but lifestyle changes can help you live with allergies and reduce its symptoms. You can consider the following tips:
Blood Allergy Test
Your healthcare provider may have you undergo a blood allergy test to measure your antibodies to an allergen in a sample of blood. It can detect most types of allergies, including food allergies.
