Hay fever relievers
WARMER TEMPERATURES HAVE TRIGGERED AN EARLY START TO POLLEN SEASON. JAMEL SMITH FINDS OUT HOW TO PREVENT AND TREAT ALLERGIES
THIS spring and summer, an estimated 10 million Britons will experience “absolute misery” as the effects of hay fever set in.
George Sandhu, deputy superintendent pharmacist at Well Pharmacy, says hay fever symptoms, including a blocked nose, watery eyes and itchy throat, are triggered by three types of pollen: trees, grass and weeds.
Some people are allergic to a single type of pollen, while others are “unfortunate enough” to suffer from symptoms caused by all three triggers.
Warmer temperatures arriving earlier in the year mean pollen and other allergens are already being released into the air, worsening the condition which last year prompted more than 122,000 clinical visits to GPs, according to the NHS.
What are the best treatments to alleviate hay fever symptoms?
Hay fever can be treated with tablets, nasal sprays or eye drops. For complete relief, experts advise using all three treatments.
George says: “Hay fever symptoms cause absolute misery for millions of people, but the good news is that there are plenty of things that you can do to reduce their impact on your life.”
Anti-allergy medicine, known as antihistamines, is the most popular form of treatment for hay fever.
Carolina Goncalves, superintendent pharmacist at Pharmica, says: “Fexofenadine can help treat a runny nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, or an itchy nose or throat. It is a nondrowsy antihistamine that works by blocking histamine (a substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms).
“Other antihistamines that have a similar effect include Cetirizine and Loratadine.”
George adds: “Since last year, allergy products containing fexofenadine hydrochloride, such as Histallay, are available without a prescription.
“Previously these medications were only available with a prescription from your doctor. The benefits can be felt within one hour and last for 24 hours without any drowsiness.”
Carolina adds: “Corticosteroid nasal sprays can help reduce nasal inflammation and clear up the nasal passages, preventing sneezing and a runny nose.”
If you’re looking for a non-corticosteroid option to treat a blocked nose, Carolina advises saline nasal sprays which help increase the moisture content in the nose, thinning the mucus and making it easier to expel.
She also recommends eye drops containing sodium cromoglicate which prevents mast cells in the eyes from releasing histamine and other substances that trigger allergies.
Immunotherapy is another effective treatment. It involves identifying the specific tree, grass or weed pollen that triggers the reaction, and gradually introducing increasing doses of the allergen into the body, helping sufferers to develop immunity.
Max Weisberg, an airborne allergens expert, says: “For NHS treatment, referral by a GP is necessary, which is usually only if all other hay fever treatments have been tried first and the reaction remains
extreme.”
How can you best prevent hay fever?
Experts recommend HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters, which can greatly reduce the presence of pollen and other allergens in indoor air.
Carolina says: “These filters are capable of trapping microscopic particles, including pollen grains, and preventing them from circulating and settling within the home environment.
“According to numerous studies, HEPA filters can remove 99.9% of aerosolised respiratory particles that are between 300 nanometres and 100 micrometres in size. This includes pollen, which can be up to 200 micrometres in size.
“Integrating HEPA filters into air purification systems and vacuum cleaners can effectively remove these allergens from the indoor air, providing relief for individuals prone to hay fever symptoms.”
It is also recommended to keep windows and doors closed during hay fever season, which generally lasts until September, to prevent pollen from entering your home.
Routine showers and changing into fresh clothes will help to remove any pollen particles and applying a small amount of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, around the nostrils can serve as a barrier to trap pollen before it enters the nasal passages, decreasing pollen exposure.