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Medically known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, Hay Fever is a common respiratory system disorder, with over 15 million sufferers in the UK alone. Hay Fever occurs during the spring and summer months, and is predominantly triggered by plant pollen.

Year-round symptoms that occur due to non-pollen allergies (e.g. house dust mites, pet hair and mould spores) are known as perennial allergic rhinitis.

Hay Fever is triggered by an error in the immune system, which causes the body to mistake pollen for a harmful substance such as a virus. Antibodies to pollen are produced, so when the body is next exposed to pollen, the immune system causes the release of histamine, which acts on local tissues to cause the classic symptoms of Hay Fever (sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, runny or blocked nose).

Despite the name, Hay Fever doesn't just affect people living in the countryside. In fact, urban dwellers are more likely to develop the condition, particularly those living in central and southern England, with air pollution thought to play a key role.

A number of other factors also have an impact on your chances of developing Hay Fever. The condition is common in people with a family history of allergic diseases, those who grew up in a house of smokers, and exposure to pets.