Hay Fever: Pollen Allergy Symptoms and Relief

Each spring, summer and fall, trees, weeds and grasses release tiny pollen grains. Some land in your nose and throat, and can set off a kind of allergy called hay fever.

Symptoms

• sneezing, often with a runny or stuffy nose;
• coughing and postnasal drip;
• itchy eyes, nose and throat;
• red, watery eyes;
• dark circles under the eyes.

Diagnosis

Your health care provider may diagnose it from a physical exam and your symptoms, sometimes with skin or blood tests.

Relief

• Medicines and nasal sprays ease symptoms.
• Rinsing your nose helps too — use distilled or sterilized water with saline.
• Allergy shots can make you less sensitive to pollen and give long-term relief.

Sources

Based on "Hay Fever," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.