Hay Fever & Pollen Allergy — What's Actually Happening in Your Body

What causes it

Hay fever happens when the immune system overreacts to airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mould spores, or pet dander, causing inflammation of the nasal passages. There are two broad types: seasonal allergic rhinitis, triggered by tree, grass, or weed pollen at specific times of year, and perennial allergic rhinitis, caused by year-round allergens like dust mites or mould.

The pollen itself comes from several sources depending on the season:

• Tree pollen — typically peaks in spring, from trees like oak, birch, cedar, and maple.

• Grass pollen — usually causes symptoms in late spring and early summer, from grasses such as Bermuda, Timothy, and Kentucky bluegrass.

• Weed pollen — often triggers symptoms in late summer and fall, from weeds like ragweed, sagebrush, and pigweed.

Why it feels the way it does

When someone allergic to pollen breathes it in, their immune system mistakes it for something harmful and releases chemicals such as histamine — which is what causes the redness, itching, and swelling.

Common symptoms

Hay fever typically shows up as sneezing and coughing, itching in the nose, mouth, throat and ears, a runny or blocked nose, reduced sense of smell, itchy and watery eyes, headache, earache, and general tiredness. Severity varies a lot — for some people it barely affects daily life, while for others it disrupts daily activities and sleep. It's also worth knowing that hay fever and asthma are connected: allergic rhinitis is a risk factor for developing asthma and can make existing asthma harder to control, and around 80% of people with asthma also experience hay fever.

A useful distinction

Hay fever is often confused with a cold, but there's a simple way to tell them apart: hay fever tends to last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually clears up within one to two weeks.

Managing symptoms

• Check daily pollen forecasts and plan outdoor time around lower-pollen periods — pollen spreads more easily on dry, windy days and less on rainy days.

• Pollen counts tend to rise during the morning and fall off by evening, so scheduling outdoor activity later in the day can help.

• Keep windows closed during peak pollen times and shower after spending time outdoors.

• Over-the-counter antihistamines can help mild-to-moderate symptoms, but anyone with more severe or persistent symptoms should speak with a doctor or pharmacist about a longer-term management plan.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Hay fever is driven by the immune system's histamine response to allergens, so it's managed through allergen avoidance and medical treatment rather than light-based therapies. That said, general wellness support — like the immune and circulation-focused sessions offered as Hyperlight Therapy at Quantum Health International — can be a helpful part of an overall self-care routine during pollen season, alongside (not instead of) proper allergy management.