Hay Fever Cough Symptoms
When someone experiences an allergic response to an allergen, it is often considered a form of hay fever, even if the allergen has nothing to do with pollen. For most people, this condition, also known as rhinitis, is a seasonal problem, suffering a flare-up during the spring, summer or fall. For others, it is more of constant condition where no change in allergic response ever occurs. Regardless of the nature of the condition, most people experience very specific symptoms of hay fever. However, it is also quite possible to suffer from what is often considered a chronic cough with this allergic condition.
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Cough
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For some people, hay fever triggers a chronic cough. This cough is often due to a postnasal drip triggered by the allergen, but it can also be caused by the allergen itself. When a person is exposed to an allergen, microscopic particles become stuck within the throat, prompting an immune response where air is pushed up from the diaphragm to free the throat of the allergen. However, this cough is normally accompanied by other symptoms.
Congestion
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Of all the symptoms of hay fever, congestion is probably the most common. When an allergen is introduced into the sinuses, the body prompts an immune response that causes the release of mucus, which contains antiseptic enzymes that help protect the membranes from damage.
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Sneezing
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Often associated with congestion is sneezing. And much like a cough, sneezing is essentially the immune response of ridding the body (in this case the sinuses) of the allergen. Once exposed to the allergen, particles become stuck within the nasal passages. Even when the allergen is removed, a person still sneezes until all traces are removed from the area.
Itchy Sensation
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It's also not uncommon for hay fever to trigger some sort of itchy sensation. For most people, this sensation is felt within the nose and eyes. But others experience the itch or scratch within the roof of the mouth or the back of the throat. As the allergen is introduced into the system, the body experiences an immune response in the form of histamine. Histamine triggers inflammation within any area containing the pathogen. A byproduct of this inflammation is an itchy or scratchy sensation.
Sleep Disruptions
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Likely to accompany the "hay fever cough" is a disruption in the sleep cycle. This is more of a derivative of the cough than an actual symptom but is still a factor in the overall condition. As a person suffers from hay fever, and the associated cough, he often is awakened from sleep or experiences some restlessness.
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