Hay Fever is a kind of seasonal allergy that causes when your body views certain particles as foreign invaders. It generates cold-like signs and symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, sinus pressure, runny nose, etc. This is a serious health problem and requires immediate medical attention.
There are lots of myths and misconceptions about this seasonal allergy that are needed to be debunked before making same day GP appointments. Let’s take a look at some of them here.
Table of Contents
Myth 1: Hay Fever is Caused by Hay
Despite the name, this allergy has nothing to do with Hay. It is mainly caused by an allergic response to outdoor or indoor allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and more. Back in the early 19th century, it was assumed that freshly cut hay was triggering the trouble, but then a British doctor James Bostock correctly identified that exposure to hay was not a cause.
Myth 2: Hay Fever gets worse during the day
If you or your near & dear one is suffering from this seasonal allergy, then it would be recommended to stay indoors during the day when the pollen level is high. But unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple and it depends on which kind of pollen you are affected with.
There are five types of pollens found; some of them are active during the day while others are active during the night. Therefore, staying indoors during the day or night can’t really help unless and until you know about the pollen which is triggering the allergy.
Myth 3: Hay Fever is not bad in damp conditions
Yet another misconception about Hay Fever is that it gets washed away in damp conditions as rain will stop pollen from spreading through the air. However, this is not 100% true. Light to moderate rainfall might help but heavy rainfall will do the opposite.
According to the research conducted in South Korea, the symptoms of Hay Fever get worsen after heavy rain or typhoons.
Myth 4: Honey can help in relieving Hay Fever Symptoms
A spoonful of Honey is always recommended to the patients suffering from Hay Fever but does it actually help? A small study is conducted in the US regarding the same and it came out with the result that honey tastes good but it has nothing to do with relieving the fever symptoms.
Neither type of honey can make a difference to the severity of the symptoms and thus it cannot be taken as a recommendation. Instead, one should immediately make the same day GP appointment and seek medical attention for the same.
Myth 5: Hay Fever is something you grow out of
It is believed that Hay Fever Symptoms ease a bit with age and they get completely disappeared in 20% of the people but this fact varies from person to person. There are people who have never experienced this seasonal allergy in childhood and get struck down with them in their 30s and 40s.
EndNote
Hay Fever is something that you cannot overlook or take lightly. If you feel any of the symptoms, then immediately visit the same day GP and get it treated effectively.