Adding insult to injury

The number of known hay fever triggers is already long and it seems some foods can produce similar symptoms.

Question:
Last summer, I spent five months laid low by hay fever that did not get much better with medication. I'm also afflicted by gut issues that appear to be triggered by wheat and dairy, which seem to make my hay fever worse. Can food intolerances add to hay fever?

Answer:
Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, affects about 40% of people. And scientists expect rates to worsen as a result of climate change. A 2022 study published in Nature Communications predicted pollen seasons could start up to 40 days earlier, run for longer and cause more people to develop seasonal allergies.

Understanding whether diet can affect hay fever symptoms is there-fore highly relevant. And with spring around the corner, it's worth asking whether dietary changes can ease seasonal allergy symptoms.Allergic rhinitis refers to inflammation of the inside of the nose by an allergen, whether from mould, dust mites, cats, dogs or different types of pollens. It typically causes cold-like symptoms such as sneezing, itchiness and a blocked or runny nose. This can be particularly confusing in the Covid era, given the shared symptoms.