Whether it’s indoor allergies or outdoor allergies, the accompanying sneezing, runny nose, and host of other symptoms is not the most pleasant experience. Allergies can cause many different symptoms, sometimes several of which all occur together, making for one very uncomfortable length of time. As a board-certified integrative medicine physician and member of Genexa’s Medical Advisory Board, we are always looking for ways to help patients navigate allergies this time of year.

Allergies are sometimes referred to as hay fever, which can cause a little bit of confusion. A popular misconception is that hay fever entails an actual fever, but this is not actually the case. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty details of what hay fever actually means.

The Basics: Hay Fever

Hay fever is also called allergic rhinitis, and it can cause some cold-like symptoms like a runny nose and sneezing. Hay fever is not, however, caused by a virus. Instead, it results from allergens like pollen, dust mites, or pet dander like fur or feathers.

Learning to avoid the things that cause your symptoms is a big part of keeping things under control, but it is obviously not always possible to predict what indoor allergens will be present wherever you go.

Depending on which allergens you are most sensitive to, your hay fever may be worse during specific times of the year.

Here is a breakdown of some common allergens and when they are at their peak:

• Tree pollen is abundant in early spring
• Grass pollen hangs around in late spring and throughout the summer
• Ragweed pollen is super common during the fall
• Dust mites, pet dander, and cockroaches are all indoor allergens that can be bothersome the whole year ’round, but your symptoms may worsen during the colder months when doors and windows tend to stay closed.

Common Allergy Symptoms

Allergies can cause a wide array of symptoms that sometimes occur altogether, but the most common symptoms include:

• Runny nose
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Headaches
• Sinus pain
• Sore throat
• Wheezing
• Postnasal drip
  

Very severe allergic reactions to common allergens can result in anaphylaxis, which is when your breathing becomes labored and you are at risk of losing consciousness. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment by medical professionals.

Diagnosing an Allergy

If you are experiencing chronic or persistent symptoms from the list above, and the common cold and the flu have been ruled out, allergies may be the culprit. In order to receive a proper diagnosis, you should pay a visit to your primary care doctor and inform them of all of your symptoms.

Allergy diagnosis typically requires a physical exam, and your doctor will ask about your medical history in order to aid the diagnostic process. Keeping a log of when you notice your symptoms acting up can help your doctor or allergist narrow down the list of potential irritants and hone in on what exactly is causing your specific reactions.

Is It Allergies or the Flu?

It can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between symptoms caused by allergies and those caused by colds or the flu, but there is one crucial difference: a fever.

If you are experiencing any kind of fever, even if it is low-grade, this is almost certainly not a case of allergies. Moreover, symptoms like chills, body aches, fatigue, and headaches are extremely common when it comes to the flu, but generally do not happen as a result of allergies.

Thus, taking a close look at what kind of symptoms you are experiencing can help you make that distinction.

Symptoms of the flu tend to affect your entire body, whereas allergy symptoms are concentrated in your facial area.

When it comes to viruses rather than the flu, it can be a bit harder to tell the difference due to the large overlap of symptoms between allergies and viruses. That said, if your primary symptoms are itchy eyes, congestion, and postnasal drip, it is probably allergies. If these symptoms are accompanied by fatigue and a low-grade fever, a virus is the most probable culprit.

How To Treat Allergy Symptoms

Looking for relief? Genexa's got you covered.

Regardless of how minor or how severe your allergy symptoms are, we know the discomfort and irritation they can bring. The best way to treat allergies is by using an antihistamine medication. That said, not all antihistamines are created equal. Some can cause marked drowsiness, and other medicines are full of inactive artificial ingredients that you don’t need or want.

That’s why David Johnson and Max Spielberg started Genexa. Genexa is the first clean medicine brand, bringing you medicine that has the active ingredients you need without the artificial ones you don’t need. Their Kids’ Allergy Care Organic Allergy & Decongestant is just one of their homeopathic remedies that can help clear up your little one’s symptoms. It features their signature organic homeopathic blend to address common symptoms associated with hay fever and other respiratory allergies, making it a perfect choice if your child is having allergy troubles.

On the other hand, if you are the one struggling through your allergy season, they have you covered, too. Genexa’s Allergy Care Organic Allergy & Decongestant is a non-drowsy, homeopathic remedy that can help ease your allergy symptoms.

They work with a team of doctors and experts to ensure that all products are both quality and highly effective so that the end result is a medicine you can really trust to both work and give you just what you need and nothing you don’t.

The Bottom Line

Though allergies, or allergic rhinitis, are often referred to as hay fever, symptoms do not commonly include an actual fever. Most often, symptoms of allergies include itchy eyes, sneezing, and congestion, and because these symptoms overlap with common symptoms of the flu or certain viruses, it can sometimes be hard to know the difference.

If you are experiencing a fever alongside other symptoms that mimic allergies, it is probable that you are actually dealing with a virus. Symptoms like body aches, fatigue, and chills are also an indication that something more serious is going on because allergy symptoms are concentrated in the region around your face, whereas symptoms of viruses or the flu have the potential to wreak havoc on your whole body.

If you have determined that the cause of your discomfort is allergies, certain medicines can help ease your discomfort, but it is important to be mindful of the ingredients. Not all medicines are on an equal playing field -- some of them contain extra, artificial inactive ingredients that don’t do much good for your body in the big picture.

Instead of taking a shot on a commercially available product just because you recognize the name, try out clean alternatives like Genexa’s formulas made from the same active ingredients you need, but without artificial inactive ingredients you don’t. Allergy symptoms can be miserable for the person dealing with them, but they don’t have to last forever, and the recovery process can be sped up with the use of homeopathic blends that help your body help itself.