Feeling fatigued?Maybe even a bit forgetful? Some of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (or hay fever) go unnoticed in lieu of the more painfully pressing ones, like eye and throat irritation or a runny nose.
Though you might think that the "hazy" feeling associated with lost sleep and allergy medications is temporary, it actually can have long term effects.
Believe it or not, the results of rhinitis can lead to cognitive impairment.
Simply put, your allergies can affect your learning abilities.
Most people notice that when their allergies are acting up, they have a harder time concentrating or remembering things.
Rhinitis and the medications used to treat it are associated with other concerns, such as:

• Decreased ability to concentrate and function
• Activity limitation
• Decreased decision-making capacity
• Impaired hand-eye coordination
• Problems remembering things
• Irritability
• Sleep disorders
• Fatigue
• Missed days at work or school
• More motor vehicle accidents
• More school or work injuries

These are problems that are often overlooked because nose blowing, scratchy throat and itchy eyes demand the most immediate action.
But repeated nights of disrupted sleep on account of allergies can slowly wear you down over time and dull your mental edge.
To add to the disorientation, allergy medications that are bought over-the-counter often contain cheaper ingredients than prescription medicines, and the result is an even hazier condition than that brought on by allergies alone.
For children, allergies often constitute something of a learning disability and many times it has been shown that atopic (allergic) diseases are mistaken for attention deficit disorder or other behavioral problems.
Constant fits of sneezing and nose blowing can break a child's concentration which in turn slows the rate at which information is absorbed.
Clogged Eustachian tubes (ear canals) can make it difficult to hear, which is proven to interfere with learning.
Overall, statistics show that children with allergies have more missed days of school than their non-allergic peers.
What can you do to avoid the haze of rhinitis?

1. When rhinitis becomes a chronic, year-round health concern, it may be time to consider seeing a doctor that specializes in allergic diseases.
   
2. Read the back of over the counter drugs-if the warnings are for drowsiness, then you should try to avoid taking that particular drug.
   Nasalcrom® (cromolyn) is one non-sedating nasal spray that is effective in treating rhinitis.
   
3. Non-drowsy antihistamines may make a big difference on allergies, but be aware of the effect that have on your body.
   Some individuals find that they are either too wound up from them or are still feeling fatigued.
   
4. Try avoiding the source of allergens by utilizing an air purifier.
   Pollen particles can be removed from the air and often the results are dramatic.
   One filter that is especially effective is one made by Dynamic Air Cleaners.
   Dynamic makes single room free standing consoles as well as whole house filters to replace your existing furnace or central air filter.