15 Potential Triggers of Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is commonly called hay fever and is the body’s response to an allergic reaction. It is often more common in the spring when allergens are being blown through the air and trees, and flowers are producing pollen.  

Some people experience allergic rhinitis when the seasons change. The most common symptoms of the condition include a runny nose, cough, sore throat, watery eyes, and headaches. Some people report flu-like symptoms. Allergy medication can help treat the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Avoiding the allergen can also help. Some people take medication when they start to experience symptoms, and others take it before allergy season starts, to help prevent a severe reaction.

An allergy test can help you determine what allergies trigger your allergic rhinitis so that you can manage it better. Allergic rhinitis can affect people of all ages. Here are some of the most common allergies and triggers of the condition.

1. Grass Pollen

When people think about pollen allergies, they usually think about flowers. The truth is, grass pollen can be just as rough. When grass is trying to grow, it must send out pollen too. When people breathe in the pollen, it aggravates their bodies and causes the immune system to go into overdrive.

The body reacts to the pollen and knows it’s a foreign substance. It does whatever it can to get it out of the body. It produces mucus to try to flush the pollen out of the body. This causes the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. It can lead to a runny or stuffy nose, fluid leaking from the ears, watery eyes, and a cough that produces thick mucus.

While it can be hard to avoid grass pollen, you can take medication or use home remedies that reduce the effect that pollen has on the body. Some people have more severe allergies than others.