21%

Proportion of allergies hay fever accounts for

DON’T drink alcohol:

While beer, wine and spirits won’t worsen your hay fever, which is a specific reaction to pollen, they can make you sneeze more, because they contain histamine, the chemical responsible for symptoms.

SHOWER as soon as you get home:

Do this to get rid of any pollen that you’ve picked up, as well as washing your hair and changing your clothes.

DON’T hang washed bedding outside on the line:

Even though the weather is warm and sheets will dry quickly, pollen will stick to them. You’ll then breathe particles in when you sleep at night. So use the tumble dryer instead. The same goes for clothes.

If you don’t have a tumble dryer, put laundry out to dry after the mid-morning pollen peak (11am) and take it back in before the early evening peak (6pm).

TRY a spoon of locally-sourced honey every day:

Local honey will contain some pollen and over time helps to desensitise the reaction.

USE eye drops daily:

This routine can help prevent itchy eyes. Try products with the anti-inflammatory sodium cromoglicate four times a day, or use olopatadine eye drops (on prescription), which work on histamine receptors in the eyes, twice a day.

AVOID cooling your home by leaving windows open:

This is especially important at 11am and 6pm (if you have air conditioning, use it — it won’t suck in pollen from outside).