After the wind and snow storm in March, most of us are looking forward to spring - warmer temperatures, beautiful flowers, vibrant colours, sound of the birds......
However, spring is also the time of seasonal allergies for millions of people. Seasonal allergies are also known as hay fever and allergic rhinitis.
The symptoms are:
sneezing
wheezing
nasal congestion
coughing
runny nose
itchy, and watery eyes
itchy throat
stomach ache
hives
fatigue, and
irritability
Normally the immune system would only react if a harmful substance, such as bacteria invades the body, leading the body to defend itself. But, for most people, the immune system overworks and perceives even harmless substances, such as pollen to be harmful. Allergic reactions can range from just mild discomfort to being life threatening.
In the next part, we will discuss some of the ways to reduce our exposure to allergy triggers and how to stay safe.