Hay Fever Causes & Risks

Causes

An allergic reaction occurs when your body's immune system overreacts to an allergen. When you breathe in an allergen, cells in your nasal passages make a chemical called histamine. Histamine causes your nose to feel itchy and also causes swelling and mucus production in the nasal passages.

Site of Histamine Production

This area has swelling and increased mucus production after contact with an allergen.

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing allergic rhinitis. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:

Family members with allergic rhinitis, eczema , or asthma
Eczema
Asthma
Food allergies

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