Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms and Treatments

Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, can easily be confused for other cold and flu-like conditions — but instead of being caused by a virus, it is caused by your immune system. This allergic reaction can be hard to manage without the help of your allergist.

Learn how our team of board-certified specialists at Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia can help you seek relief.

Symptoms of Hay Fever

Identified as a group of symptoms that affect your nose and airways, allergic rhinitis occurs when your immune system overreacts to something in the environment that typically causes no problems for a person without allergies. This means that allergens such as pollen, dander, irritants such as cigarette smoke, grass, ragweed, and yes — even hay — can cause a reaction for a person who is indeed allergic.

Common symptoms of hay fever include:

• Runny nose.
• Itchy eyes, mouth, or skin.
• Sneezing.
• Stuffy nose due to blockage or congestion.
• Fatigue (often reported due to poor quality sleep as a result of nasal obstruction).

Typically, patients experience heightened symptoms through the late winter through early fall, as allergy season peaks in Georgia during this time. However, patients allergic to indoor allergens such as mold or dust can experience a reaction at any time.

Managing Your Hay Fever

It’s no secret that we Georgians love to take advantage of the warm weather of spring and summer — making managing our allergy symptoms a challenge. Here are some quick tips to help manage your symptoms:

• Wear glasses or sunglasses when outdoors.
• Wash your hands and change your clothes once returning home.
• Clean your home often.
• Keep your windows closed — especially on high pollen count days.
• Seek treatment from your allergist.

Seek Allergy Treatment at Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia

If you are suffering from spring allergies, let our allergy team at Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia help you find immediate and lasting relief. We will help you get better this spring and help develop a program to keep you well and free of allergy-related problems.