Hay fever is very common and while a lot of people are affected in spring when pollen levels are high, hay fever can actually occur at any time of the year.
Anyone who is affected by hay fever know the symptoms all too well. Itchy and watery eyes, a runny and itchy nose, a scratchy throat, sneezing and even headaches, but did you know that hay fever and allergies can affect your hearing too?
You may experience temporary hearing loss during a bout of hay fever due to the inflammation of the Eustachian tube which connects the ears and nose to the throat. Also, all of that sniffing and sneezing you’ve been doing can create too much mucus in your middle ear. The mucus alone can affect your hearing, but the good news is, this hearing loss is usually temporary. Feeling pressure in the ears is also common if you’ve got allergies and could be an indication that mucus isn’t draining properly.
So be prepared for hay fever season, have the antihistamines at the ready and ensure you’re protecting your ears all year round so they’re in good health when you get the sniffles!
