If you are one of the millions of people who suffer pollen and allergies, you don't need a calendar to tell you it's spring. Sometimes called hay fever, allergic rhinitis can sometimes be confused with a cold. So, what's happening and what can you do?
While hay fever alone may not be life threatening, it can be uncomfortable, says Dr. Arveen Bhasin, a Mayo Clinic allergy and immunology expert. She offers these tips for relief from spring pollen and allergies and tells you when it's time to see an allergist.
"If you're prone towards allergies, you develop an antibody called IGE to that particular allergen. When you're exposed to that allergen, it causes the release of histamine and these other mediators," says Dr. Bhasin.
