Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)
Allergic Rhinitis (commonly called Hay Fever) is caused by inhaling
airborne particles to which you may be allergic. These are called
allergens. Out of the more than 67 million Americans who suffer from
allergies, 24-40 million suffer from an airborne allergy, such as hay
fever or allergic rhinitis.

These allergies are caused by:

Pollen
Pet dander
Dust particles
Mold spores
Plants like ragweed, cattail and maple tree release their pollen to
initiate their reproductive processes with nearby plants of their
species. Pollens are carried by the wind, so not all of them reach
their targets, and instead they land on you. For that reason, too,
pollen is frequently present in the air we breathe. Weather forecasts
are important signals - pollen can't travel in the rain.

If you are an individual sensitive to pollen, you will experience an
allergic reaction.

Taking into account the airborne allergens listed above, there are two
forms of allergic rhinitis: Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (also called
Hay Fever or Pollinosis) and Perennial Allergic Rhinitis. Seasonal
Allergic Rhinitis occurs during specific flowering periods when plants
are shedding their pollen. In general, trees flower in the spring,
grasses in the summer and weeds in the fall. The weather forecast is a
powerful tool in anticipating high pollen days.

Perennial Rhinitis, on the other hand, is characterized for it's year-
round allergy symptoms. Most symptoms are due to pet dander, dust,
mold in the house, etc. The weather forecast will do little to help
you prepare these symptons.

General symptoms of these types of allergies include:

sneezing
clear and watery nasal discharge and congestion
itchy eyes, nose, and throat
watery eyes

Please vist www.ecologyworks.com to view products that can help
eliminate some of these causes in a way that is safe for you and the
environment.