The arrival of warm weather in spring is a cause for celebration. But spring also brings with it a problem that can make life much less enjoyable for people in your household—allergies.
Spring is allergy season because the plant bloom that occurs during the first warm weather of the year releases large amounts of pollen into the air. The increased pollen count triggers seasonal allergies, known as hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Hay fever isn’t a viral infection, but its symptoms are similar to those of flus and colds, and can be just as unpleasant: runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion, and sinus pain. And unlike fevers and colds, hay fever’s symptoms start immediately after a person is exposed to the allergens that trigger it.