What does hay fever do to your body? Hay fever myths debunked

Hay fever is so common that we might think we know everything about it, but there are still plenty of myths around this allergic reaction. In this guide, we’ll answer some common questions about the condition – such as ‘is hay fever contagious?’ and ‘can hay fever cause nausea?’ – and debunk any myths in response to what does hay fever do to your body.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• Causes of hay fever
• Symptoms of hay fever
• Prevention of hay fever

Causes of hay fever

There are several common myths around the causes of hay fever, including whether it is linked to hay itself, whether it can spread from person to person, and whether genetics play a role. The questions below address these misconceptions and explain what really causes hay fever.

Is hay fever an allergy?
Yes, hay fever is an allergy, caused by your immune system’s overreaction to a harmless allergen in the air (such as pollen).¹ Hay fever can often be confused with a cold or flu, but these are viral infections triggered by infectious agents.

Does hay cause hay fever?
One of the most common misconceptions associated with hay fever is thinking that hay is the root cause. So, does hay cause hay fever in any way? Well, exposure to hay does not necessarily trigger symptoms. If you're wondering what the symptoms of hay fever are, the most common trigger is pollen released by trees, grass and weeds.¹ Hay (cut dried grass) may well contain grass pollen grains, but the name ‘hay fever’ implies that it’s a reaction to the hay itself, which is completely untrue.²

Is hay fever contagious?
Though colds and hay fever share many similar symptoms, one of the differences is that hay fever isn’t contagious. It’s the body’s immune response to external allergens, rather than an infection that can be passed onto others (as a cold can be).³ Therefore, it is impossible for you to spread hay fever symptoms.

Is hay fever genetic?
While hay fever isn’t passed onto others in a contagious sense, having a family history of allergies can predispose you to develop hay fever, as genes can affect the way your immune system responds to allergens like pollen.⁴ Environmental factors can also be at play, as someone with a high genetic predisposition to hay fever may not experience symptoms until being triggered by specific allergens around them.⁴

Now we’ve dealt with what causes hay fever, it’s time to look at questions about symptoms.

Symptoms of hay fever

The symptoms of hay fever are often associated with the nose, eyes, and sinuses, but the condition can affect the body in wider and sometimes unexpected ways.¹ The following questions explore less obvious symptoms of hay fever, helping to clarify what may, and may not, be linked to seasonal allergies.

Can hay fever cause a rash?
You may be wondering, ‘can hay fever cause hives or a skin rash’? Depending on the person, hives are a symptom hay fever sufferers can experience. However, these rashes usually clear up within a few days.⁵ Chronic skin rash reactions are more common with food allergies, though it is possible with hay fever as a secondary symptom.⁶

Can hay fever cause a rash as a one-off? Repeated rashes are more likely triggered by an allergy (so you could check your washing powder or any products you’re using on your skin).⁵

Can hay fever cause a cough?
Is there a link between a cough and hay fever? This is one of the often-confused symptoms of hay fever and a cold. When pollen irritates the lining of your nose, it triggers the nasal passages to produce watery mucus. This trickles down the back of your throat and you might cough to remove it.¹

However, if you’re wondering can hay fever cause a cough that’s the same as the chesty cough caused by a cold, the answer is no. Hay fever mucus is watery and clear, whereas mucus created because of an infection tends to be thick and yellow or green.¹ 

Can hay fever give you a sore throat?
Hay fever can trigger certain symptoms in your throat. But can hay fever give you a sore throat like you get with a cold? Well, rather than being sore, it’s more likely to be itchy or tickly.¹ This itchy sensation can be felt in the mouth, nose and ears, too.

Can hay fever cause nausea?
Hay fever doesn’t typically affect the body in a way that causes nausea. However, you might find that nausea is listed as one of the possible side effects of medication that’s used to treat hay fever symptoms. That could be a reason why you find your hay fever goes hand-in-hand with nausea. So, can hay fever cause nausea? The answer is indirectly, as it is unlikely to have been the pollen you breathed in that caused the nausea.⁷

Prevention of hay fever

From lifestyle changes to dietary choices, advice around the prevention of hay fever is widespread, and not always accurate. Here we’ll explore common myths about the prevention of hay fever, helping to clarify which measures may be helpful in reducing exposure to allergens, and which are unlikely to make a meaningful difference.

Does staying indoors prevent hay fever?
Staying indoors can help reduce exposure to pollen, particularly when pollen counts are high, but it does not completely prevent hay fever. Pollen particles are very small and can still enter indoor spaces, meaning total avoidance is difficult.¹

Pollen can be brought indoors through¹:

• Open windows and doors
• Clothing worn outside
• Fresh flowers
• Laundry dried outdoors
• Pets that have been outside

While staying indoors may help reduce symptoms of hay fever, it is not a guaranteed way to prevent them. Taking additional steps to limit pollen entering the home can make a bigger difference.

Can eating local honey prevent hay fever?
There is no strong scientific evidence to suggest that eating local honey can prevent hay fever or reduce allergic reactions to pollen.⁸ This is a common myth based on the idea that exposure to small amounts of pollen may help build tolerance, but this has not been proven to work for hay fever.⁸

That said, honey may still offer some small benefits to people with hay fever, such as soothing an irritated or itchy throat.⁸ So, while local honey may ease certain symptoms, it should not be relied upon as a preventative treatment for hay fever.

Can hay fever be prevented altogether?
Hay fever cannot be completely prevented, as it is caused by an allergic reaction of the immune system and has no cure.^1,9 However, symptoms can often be reduced by limiting exposure to pollen and using appropriate treatments. 

For example, washing pollen off the skin and hair after being outdoors, or using antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays,⁹ can help manage symptoms during periods of high pollen levels.

So, what does hay fever do to your body? Now that you know more about the true hay fever causes and common symptoms, you can share your newfound knowledge with your loved ones, and debunk all those myths.