Spring is synonymous with budding flowers, blooming trees — and for many, allergies. According to the CDC, seasonal allergies (also called hay fever and allergic rhinitis) can affect as many as 60 million people per year in the United States.

Below, Neil Parikh, MD, an allergy and immunology specialist with Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group, discusses causes of allergies, management tips and seasonal allergy trends.

Dr. Ali Amirzadeh, an expert allergy and immunology doctor with Mercy Medical Group in Sacramento, answers questions about hay fever and allergies below. 

What is Hay Fever? What does it mean if you have Hay Fever?

Hay fever is also known as allergic rhinitis. If you have hay fever it means that your body over reacts to allergens that don’t usually cause problems. These triggering allergens could be from outdoor sources (pollen or spores) or indoor sources (dust, pet dander or fur, etc.).

Dignity Health and Propeller Health, a leading digital therapeutics company, announced the results of their new published, peer-reviewed study, which indicates that asthma-related emergency room visits declined by more than half for people who used connected, digital medicine to manage their disease.

Asthma affects about 25 million Americans and accounts for 1.8 million emergency room visits every year. Among school-age children, asthma is the number one reason for missed school days.

Dignity Health Medical Group – Merced recently announced that Mark Spitzer, DO, has joined their group and is now accepting patients. Dr. Spitzer is an ear, nose, and throat doctor (otorhinolaryngologist). He specializes in many conditions, including seasonal allergies, head and neck surgeries like thyroidectomy, neck cancers, and salivary gland issues, as well as general otolaryngology.