Hay fever

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Hay fever, also know as seasonal allergic rhinitis, is a very common in the UK. Itâ€™s an allergy to grass or hay pollens and generally happens during the spring and summer. Grass is in pollen (in flower) from May to July and is the most common cause of hay fever. Exactly when you get it depends on which pollens youâ€™re allergic to.

During the spring (March to May), pollens from trees are the most common cause of hay fever. Some people get hay fever into the autumn months as well. This is rarer and is usually caused by weeds such as nettles and docks, late flowering plants and fungal spores.

Hay fever symptoms can be similar to a cold, and include a runny nose and eyes and repeated sneezing attacks. As with all allergies, the symptoms happen as a result of your immune system (the bodyâ€™s defence system) overreacting to a normally harmless substance â€“ in this case, pollen. When the body comes into contact with pollen, cells on the lining of your nose, mouth and eyes release a chemical called histamine that triggers the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Youâ€™re more likely to get hay fever if there is a history of allergies in your family, particularly asthma or eczema. Hay fever usually begins in the early teens and peaks when youâ€™re in your twenties. Research shows that many people become less sensitive to pollen as they get older, and by the time they reach their mid-forties, hay fever may no longer be a problem.