Retail therapies
tree pollens, starting with hazel and alder, which can cause symptoms from mid-February, then elm and yew from the beginning of March, followed by birch, which is a common cause of hayfever from the end of March to early May.
The biggest difference between a cold and hayfever is usually the nasal discharge, which is always clear in hayfever, whereas with a cold it can be creamy, yellow or green.
And unlike hayfever, a cold can also give you a mild fever and sometimes a sore throat and ears and make you generally feel unwell. And unlike a cold, hayfever can give you itchy and watering eyes and an itchy nose and throat.
Colds usually last up to 10 days whereas hayfever will continue as long as the pollen trigger is in the air, which is usually a month or more. It’s also worth trying to remember if you had similar symptoms at the same time last year as this makes hayfever more likely.
If you think you have a hayfever then your symptoms will be eased by taking antihistamine tablets and an anti-allergy nasal spray.They won’t help if you have a cold, and more importantly won’t do you any harm, so are worth a try.
QI AM a 73-year-old woman who has irritable bowel syndrome, for which I take medication. Lately my bowels have been playing up. I have the feeling I want to go to the toilet all the time. When I do go I don’t do much and it is very soft. Also I get a lot of wind and sometimes I find I have had a little accident. It is embarrassing and very inconvenient. Also I get a lot of niggly tummy aches. Can you advise me please?
ATHIS may sound strange but I wonder if you are constipated. That sense of constantly needing to go and incomplete emptying could be due to a build up of hard faeces in your lower bowel, a condition called faecal impaction. Small amounts of soft or liquid matter is able to get past but this may happen accidently.
Having wind and feeling uncomfortable often happens too. The only way to diagnose this is for your doctor to check what is going on inside your back passage by examining it with a finger (it’s not as embarrassing or uncomfortable as it sounds).
If there is a build up of hard faecal matter this is often best cleared with suppositories or an enema.You will feel more comfortable and your bowel movements should return to normal. So make an appointment at your surgery as soon as possible.
DECENT workout leggings can be hard to find but new brand TCA Relentless has cracked it.
100 per cent opaque, they have a high waistband, wick sweat and their breathable mesh lining works to stop the material slipping or chafing, making them great for sensitive skin. (£39; tca.fit)
HORSE Chestnut and Butcher’s Broom are the natural ingredients that make Bional V-Nal Cream (£10.35; Holland & Barrett) a superhero for legs and feet.
Regular application can help banish dryness and discolouration that can come with age. Apply generously and put your feet up for 20 minutes to deal with fatigue.
SWEETENED with dates and made without any refined sugar, Whole Earth’s Chocolate and Hazelnut Smooth Peanut Butter (£3; Tesco) has 80 per cent less sugar than standard chocolate spreads but still feels like an indulgent treat.
It’s also a decent source of protein and fibre, whether you indulge with crepes or spread it on wholemeal toast.
‘Think of it as part of your routine, like brushing your teeth’