FROM THE GP’S SURGERY
WITH the summer months over, for many people that brings a wave of relief and the assurance that hay fever symptoms are a thing of the past… until next year.
However as many people know – hay fever is just one of the reasons we can suffer from allergies.
There are plenty of things out there that have the potential to cause an allergic reaction, it’s important to know the causes and the treatments that are available.
WHAT MIGHT BE MAKING YOU SNEEZE
Dust mites – There are between two to three million mites in the average mattress and their droppings are a trigger for conditions such as asthma, rhinitis and eczema. You could consider investing in anti-allergy bedding to help reduce your symptoms. Mould – A non-seasonal allergy, moulds can cause allergic reaction in people. Cover the soil of any house plants with a layer of pea-shingle, so that it is less attractive to mould, which can trigger asthma symptoms.
Animals – An estimated 10 million Brits suffer an allergy to animal ‘dander’ – skin flakes and hair from dogs, cats, horses and other mammals. Consider investing in an air purifier and regularly wash your pets.
Hay fever – Don’t be fooled, for some unlucky sufferers, hay fever can still surface here and there despite the autumn weather. People tend to think of hay fever as a mild allergy, but when symptoms are severe, it can stop you in your tracks.
TREAT THE SNEEZE
ANTIHISTAMINES can sometimes make you feel drowsy, but they often work wonders for many sufferers. Steroid-based antiinflammatory nasal sprays are available on prescription from your local or online pharmacy and can decrease inflammation but take longer to deal with symptoms.
If your allergy is particularly bad, speak to your GP or online doctor about a referral to one of around 90 NHS allergy clinics in the UK.
Knowing your specific trigger can be the first step in getting a handle on it. The suspected allergen (the name given to something that may trigger an allergy) is either pricked under your skin and observed; a sample of your blood is taken and sent for tests for over 400 allergens; or a patch is attached to your skin to test for reactions such as contact dermatitis.
Whether you undergo a blood or a patch test depends upon the type of allergy your doctor is trying to pin-point.
Dr Alexandra Phelan is a NHS GP and online doctor for Pharmacy2U. Manage your repeat prescriptions by going to www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/NHS