JODIE WILLIAMSON

COLUMNIST

IT IS starting to feel like spring has finally arrived.

The daffodils and crocuses are in full bloom as are the cherry blossoms and magnolia trees.

For the majority of us these signs that summer is just around the corner are very welcome. But for some it marks the start of the hay fever season and months of runny noses and itchy eyes which can really put a dampener on your spirits.

So don’t wait for your hay fever symptoms to appear, visit your pharmacy now to get advice on how best to manage them, so you can enjoy the long sunny days when they arrive.

Hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, affects around one in five people in the UK and is an allergy to pollen.

Itchy eyes, blocked or runny nose, sneezing and other hay fever symptoms are all caused when your body is exposed to pollen and reacts as if it were harmful.

Cells in your body then release chemicals which cause the inside layer of the nose to become swollen and bring about an increase in mucous production.

If you’re allergic to tree pollen you may already be battling with hay fever symptoms. Many more will be affected from late May to early August when grass pollen, the most common trigger for hay fever, is at its highest.

As with most allergies, the best way to control hay fever is to avoid the triggers.

To make sure you’re well prepared during hay fever season check the Met Office pollen count daily. When the pollen count is “high” or “very high” it’s best to keep your windows shut at night and first thing in the morning and, if you can, stay indoors during this time as this is when the pollen count is at its highest.

Many of us won’t be able – or want – to stay indoors, so on high pollen days protect your eyes by wearing wraparound sunglasses and applying petroleum jelly (Vaseline) just inside your nostrils to help trap some of the pollen.

If you drive to work, keep your windows closed. If you walk or cycle, consider wearing a mask.

Washing your hands and face regularly, and showering and changing your clothes after being outside, will help to remove any pollen that may have stuck to you during the day.

You may find that, even after taking as many precautions as practicable, your hay fever symptoms are still affecting your quality of life.

In this case, a range of treatments (including tablets, nasal sprays and eye drops) are available from your pharmacy.

Treatments fall into two main categories – antihistamines, which prevent an allergic reaction and corticosteroids (steroids), which reduce levels of inflammation and swelling.

Pharmacists are experts on the effects of medicines on people, so speak to your local pharmacist about which medicine is most appropriate for you.

Since it can take time for hay fever medication to build up its effect, it’s important to take action now so that you can enjoy the summer months with as few symptoms as possible.

Jodie Williamson is a pharmacist working for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Wales