How to deal with hayfever
Hay fever sufferers have it bad in South Africa. The season extends well beyond spring – in fact, now is one of the worst times of year because weeds release pollen as we head towards winter. As autumn approaches and allergies abound, brush up on ways to minimise the effects with these 10 easy tips
Watch the weather. Popular forecast sites and apps such as accuweather.com and weather.com include information on the pollen count for a specific area.
When levels are high, people who suffer from severe hay fever should stay indoors, especially between 5am and 10am when pollen is most prevalent.
Don’t stroke your pets when they’ve been outside. Dogs and cats can carry pollen inside after they’ve gone for a romp.
If you live with someone who isn’t allergic to pollen, ask them to rub the animals down with a towel. You can also give them a light dustdown with the vacuum cleaner or dust buster – provided they’re docile enough not to get freaked out, of course.
Make your home a sneeze-free zone. Close windows and doors to limit allergens in the house when the pollen count is high.
Limit soft furnishings such as cushions and rugs, sleep on pillows stuffed with synthetic material instead of feathers, and encase your mattress in an allergy-free cover.
Shower and rinse your hair before bed. This will remove pollen residue from your skin and hair and help prevent a nighttime allergy attack.
Tuck into a curry. If hay fever makes you all bunged up, a spicy meal could offer relief. Chilli widens your airways while spices such as turmeric have natural anti-inflammatory qualities that can help to ease symptoms.
Have a cuppa. Camomile and nettle teas have antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties to help relieve the symptoms of hay fever.
Plug in the kettle instead of reaching for a bottle of wine when pollen is prevalent – booze is packed with histamines and you’ll just feel worse.
Block it up! Before you head out into pollen hell, smear petroleum jelly around each nostril to keep as much of the bad stuff out of your system as possible.
Go easy on the aircon. The system in your car can help reduce your exposure to allergens but it can also expose you to airborne spores within the unit that can trigger allergy symptoms. Open the windows part of the way for 10 minutes after turning on the aircon to get rid of the spores and don’t direct the vents towards your face.
Protect your peepers. Hay fever sufferers often also experience itchy eyes. Wraparound sunglasses are the best choice for keeping pollen out of the picture.
Dry your clothes indoors. Washing them gets rid of pollen but hanging them out to dry could undo all the good work. Rather dry your laundry inside if you can. If you don’t have the space, avoid hanging clothes outside in the early morning or evening when pollen counts are highest.