Ready for Hay Fever Season
Colleen Shannon, our Health Writer, finds out how you can ease symptoms.
SPRING is the time of year when your heart lifts, and the world is bursting out into bloom and leaf. But if you have hay fever, all that reawakening plant life can mean your allergy symptoms are about to reappear, too.
One in five people in the UK has hay fever. Fortunately, most can manage the symptoms well.
To learn more about the condition and how to manage it, I had a chat with Holly Shaw, Nurse Advisor with the charity Allergy UK.
She started by explaining a medical term: allergic rhinitis (hay fever). It happens when the body mobilises the immune system in response to a foreign substance that it sees as potentially harmful.
Many substances, including mould, pet hair and house dust mites, can trigger this immune response in certain individuals.
In the case of hay fever, the trigger is pollen. There are three main pollen seasons: tree pollens start in early spring, grass in the summer, and weeds towards the autumn. People can be allergic to pollens from one particular season, or several.
When you’re allergic to pollen, the body responds by releasing a chemical called histamine. It causes the familiar symptoms of hay fever, which include an itchy and running nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes.
If hay fever is bothering you, ask your pharmacist or GP for advice. Some people benefit from nasal sprays made especially for allergic rhinitis.
Another option is anti-histamine tablets. There are many different types, and Allergy UK recommends taking a oncedaily tablet that does not make you drowsy.
Soothing eye drops or a topical pollen allergen barrier balm for your nose may also help. Talk to your health professional to find the best medicines for your individual needs.
With advice from your pharmacist or GP, you can plan ahead to take your medication at the right time to head off your hay fever symptoms. It helps to keep an eye on the pollen forecast. A good place to check is the Met Office website at www.metoffice.gov.uk
It’s not possible to avoid pollen completely, but if you are allergic to it, you can take some simple steps to reduce your exposure. On days when the pollen count is high, you might decide to stay indoors more, or close your bedroom window at night.
If your eyes are affected, some people find that it helps to wear wraparound sunglasses when they’re outside.
Pollen is sticky, so when you hang your washing out, you can bring the pollen indoors along with your dry laundry. If possible, dry your linen and clothes with another method on high-pollen days.
It can also stick to your hair and body, so if you have been outdoors on a high-pollen day, take a shower and wash your hair when back indoors.
For more information on hay fever and a wide range of allergic conditions, visit the Allergy UK website at www.allergyuk.org or call their helpline on 01322 619898. n