Name: Hay fever – when to see your doctor
Creator: Dr Karen Martin
Published: 2023-02-27T09:33:34.099Z

You may also want to see your doctor if you have any doubt about your diagnosis or it doesn’t seem to fit a particular pattern. Other allergens can trigger a runny nose or itchy eyes, and this may be something to consider if you can’t see a pattern or you are suffering symptoms all year round. House dust mites, animal dander, and mold are a few common ones. 

What if its not hay fever?

If you are pregnant, you should try drug-free treatments first. Antihistamine tablets and steroid nasal sprays may be an option after discussing any risks with your doctor. 

What if I'm pregnant?

Flonase Allergy Relief Nasal Spray, 24 Hour Non Drowsy Allergy Medicine, Metered Spray - 72 Sprays (0.38 o z, 11.1 mL))

Pataday Extra Strength Once Daily Relief Eye Drops, For Ages 2 and Older 0.085 fl oz (2.5ml)

Benadryl Allergy Ultratab Tablets (48 count)

You should see your doctor urgently if your asthma is made worse by an allergen or if you don’t have an asthma diagnosis but are wheezing, short of breath, or have a cough for more than three weeks. 

When should I see my doctor more urgently?

Hay fever – how can I ease my nasal symptoms?

Constant sneezes and a streaming nose can be common in the pollen season. If you suffer from hay fever, or allergic rhinitis in medical terms, you will feel desperate to rid yourself of the tissues and feeling of congestion. Our pharmacist has put together some solutions to ease your nasal symptoms with hay fever.

Hay fever tablets (also known as antihistamine tablets) are a group of medications that prevent the level of histamine from rising in the body and reduce the symptoms this can cause. Antihistamines can be used to treat a range of conditions including allergic reactions, motion sickness and insomnia. However, the term "antihistamines" most commonly refers to medications that are used to treat hay fever.

[Antihistamines](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/treatment/antihistamines) are a group of medications that prevent the level of histamine from rising in the body and reduce the symptoms this can cause. Antihistamines can be used to treat a range of conditions, including allergic reactions, [motion sickness](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/article/motion-sickness), and [insomnia](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/symptom/insomnia-738). However, the term "antihistamines" most commonly refers to medications that are used to treat [hay fever](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/article/hay-fever).

Most allergies are mild and require minimal treatment. They’re usually cleared within a few hours or days. They rarely cause significant problems or a threat to your health.

[Hay fever](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/article/hay-fever) and animal allergies are the most common type of mild allergies. An immune response is provoked when you come into contact with pollen or animal dander, releasing a substance called histamine. It gives specific symptoms such as a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, watery or itchy eyes, or an itchy skin rash.

If the pollen season is a time of year you dread, you may be looking for ways to relieve your hay fever symptoms. For a few people, avoiding the allergen and using products from your pharmacy aren't enough. Let's take you through the options your doctor may consider if your symptoms are taking their toll, including desensitizing with allergy immunotherapy.

[Antihistamines](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/treatment/antihistamines) (commonly referred to as hay fever tablets) are a group of medications that prevent the level of histamine from rising in our body and reduce the symptoms this can cause. Antihistamines can be used to treat a range of conditions including mild allergic reactions, [motion sickness](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/article/motion-sickness) and [insomnia](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/symptom/insomnia-738). However, the term "antihistamines" most commonly refers to medications that are used to treat hay fever.

There’s an array of antihistamine products available, so let our resident pharmacist take you through where to start and how to choose between them.

[Hay fever](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/article/hay-fever) affects many people and is caused by an allergy to pollen. But did you know people are usually allergic to certain pollens and not others which is why people suffer hay fever at different points in the year? We’ll take you through matching your symptoms to the different pollens so you can get on top of your hay fever.

Zepbound is a weight loss drug used to treat people who are obese or are overweight with other medical conditions. In this article we explain what Zepbound is, who it is suitable for, how it works and possible side effects.

## What is Zepbound?

Zepbound is the brand name for a drug called tirzepatide. It is a new class of drug called a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. GIP is short for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, and GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, both of which belong to a type of body hormone known as incretins which help to regulate blood sugar.

Zepbound can also slow down digestion so that sugar (glucose) from food takes longer to be absorbed into the body, and so it can reduce appetite, which in turn can cause weight loss.

Pregnancy can leave you hot and bothered at the best of times, and you don’t want the added burden of symptoms of [hay fever](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/article/hay-fever) or other allergic problems. But lots of the products you’ve relied on before state they may not be safe in pregnancy. 

So how can you treat your symptoms? Practicing doctors here at Healthwords are used to weighing up risks and benefits – some products that are labelled as "not recommended in pregnancy" may be an option after discussion with your doctor. Let’s arm you with the facts first, before you speak to your doctor.

It’s also worth stating that hay fever, or [allergic rhinitis](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/condition/allergic-rhinitis) (similar eye and nose symptoms to any allergen), is not known to cause any harm to you or your growing baby if left untreated. It’s for your comfort if you wish to pursue treatment for your symptoms.

Ah, the summertime ... sunshine, picnics, the smell of freshly cut grass ... but if the great outdoors leaves you with sneezing fits and puffy eyes, you’re likely to suffer from hay fever. Antihistamines are a good option to reduce symptoms, but many people prefer natural or drug-free remedies. Our pharmacist will talk you through some options.

Hay fever – also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis - is an allergy to pollen, usually from grass or trees that can cause symptoms in either your eyes, nose or throat. In some sufferers it can cause a whole body response with a combination of symptoms, leaving you feeling pretty fed up and reluctant to embrace the great outdoors. It can also end up interfering with your work, study and sleep. 

Pollen is a dust-like particle, carried on the wind and by insects such as bees to pollinate more plants. Proteins in pollen can trigger an inflammatory response where an immune-fighting substance called histamine is released from mast cells in the body. This is helpful in protecting you from certain irritants, but hay fever and other allergic reactions occur because your histamine release mechanism goes into overdrive. Hay fever is very common, affecting around 1 in every 5 people in the US, and it often starts as a child or teenager. It can run in families and you are more likely to have hay fever if you also suffer from asthma or eczema. 

If you have hay fever, when you come into contact with pollen or the spores of molds or fungi that you’re allergic to, your body produces an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Antibodies are usually only released to fight infection, but in this instance, your body believes the substance you’re allergic to is harmful. 

When there’s a lot of the substance you’re allergic to in the air, the IgE antibodies will trigger the release of chemicals from certain cells in your nose, throat and eyes. One of these chemicals is histamine, and as a result of histamine in your system, you’ll experience the symptoms of hay fever. 

Pollen is seasonal. You may be allergic to just one type of pollen, which means you are only susceptible to symptoms at certain times of the year, and therefore treatment can be limited to this time. 

Treatment can be targeted at relieving each symptom or with the aim of reducing inflammation throughout the body. With lots of hay fever products on the market, it can be tricky to know which is right for you, so let’s talk you through the options. 

Allergic rhinitis

The word ‘rhinitis’ means inflammation of the nose and if this is caused by an allergy, it’s known as ‘allergic rhinitis’. Allergic rhinitis, also known as [hay fever](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/article/hay-fever), is an allergy to pollen. Typically, grass or tree pollen are the culprits. They cause itchy eyes, nose, and throat, plus sneezing, a runny nose, and watery eyes. These symptoms occur in what’s known as hay fever season, which is typically from the end of March to July but varies depending on where you are in the country and whether your allergy is to grass pollen or tree pollen. House dust mite and pet allergy can trigger allergic rhinitis at any time of the year.

Allergic rhinitis is very common, with around 7-8% of people in the US suffering with it at some point in their life; however, it most commonly starts as a child or teenager. It can run in families, and you are more likely to have allergic rhinitis if you also suffer from [asthma](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/condition/asthma-what-is-it-57) or [eczema](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/article/eczema). Allergic rhinitis is not contagious.

Dr Kandi - Allergic rhinitis

Beconase AQ contains the active ingredient beclomethasone, which is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid. It is only available by prescription in the US to prevent and treat the symptoms of [hay fever](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/article/hay-fever) and other airborne allergies such as animal and dust allergies. Beconase AQ can help with sneezing, congestion, an itchy or runny nose, sinus discomfort and eyes that are red, itchy, or watery.

Constant sneezes and a streaming nose can be common in the pollen season. If you suffer from [hay fever](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/article/hay-fever), or [allergic rhinitis](https://www.healthwords.ai/us/condition/allergic-rhinitis) in medical terms, you will feel desperate to rid yourself of the tissues and feeling of congestion. Our pharmacist has put together some solutions to ease your nasal symptoms with hay fever.

Nasonex contains mometasone, a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid, and is available over-the-counter. It can prevent and treat hay fever symptoms and other airborne allergies, such as animal and dust allergies. It helps with sneezing, congestion, an itchy or runny nose, and sinus discomfort.

Dr Karen Martin

Pharmacist and Head of US Content

If you’ve tried over-the-counter pharmacy products and you’re not getting on top of your symptoms, book an appointment with your doctor. They will assess your symptoms and what you’ve tried already and work out the best solution for you.  

They may prescribe a stronger antihistamine tablet or steroid nasal spray. You should also see your doctor if you’ve been on antihistamine tablets for three months or more – they may advise you to change the brand or try another treatment. 

Hay fever – when to see your doctor

Doctor’s advice

What if I'm pregnant?

When should I see my doctor more urgently?

Pharmacist recommended products

What if its not hay fever?

Related topics

Hay fever – how can I ease my nasal symptoms?

Hay fever tablets

Prescription antihistamine

Mild allergy medicines

Hay fever and desensitization

Best antihistamine tablets for hay fever

Seasons of hay fever

Zepbound for weight loss

Antihistamines in pregnancy

Natural antihistamines

Hay fever

Allergic rhinitis

Beconase AQ nasal spray

Hay fever nasal spray

Nasonex nasal spray