The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
FIGHT BACK AND EASE THE SNEEZE
With a shortage of one of the most used over-the-counter hay fever medicines in the UK, allergy experts explain how best to keep your pollen allergies at bay. By Imy Brighty-Potts.
Some hay fever medicine is in short supply in the UK, owing to a lack of a key ingredient. Stocks of chlorphenamine maleate, the active ingredient in Piriton, have been affected – although many other hay fever medicines are available, Boots has assured people. So, what does this mean for people with hay fever?
Dr Stephanie Ooi from MyHealthcare Clinic (myhealthcareclinic.com) and @ the_gp_mum, says: “Hay fever can have a thoroughly nasty effect on our everyday lives, and leaves a lot of people dreading spring and summer.
“Sadly, there is no cure for hay fever and the best we can do is try to prevent and manage symptoms, such as sneezing and coughing, an itchy throat and fatigue.”
It’s advisable to see your GP if you’re really struggling with hay fever.
But if you can’t get your hands on the medication you usually use and don’t want to use another, or want to try managing your symptoms without popping a pill, there are some things you could try . . .
SHADE YOUR EYES
“Hay fever tends to fester in your eyes,” explains Alex Ionides, ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital and co-founder of MTHK (mthk.com).
“You’re likely to experience burning, stinging and swelling in the eyelids and conjunctiva – the clear tissue that covers the surface of your eyeballs – which may give you a runny nose, constant sneezing, and even blurred vision.”
It’s one of the more annoying symptoms of hay fever, so Ionides says: “Sunglasses are great as a preventative measure for hay fever. Go for a wraparound pair to help reduce pollen contact with your eyes.”
WORK OUT MORE
Ionides suggests exercise could be a great way to help ease your hay fever.
If you do decide to get moving, he says: “Outdoor running and cycling are best done in the middle of the day, when the pollen
count is usually at its lowest.”
EAT LOW-HISTAMINE FOODS AND CUT OUT BOOZE
Priya Tew, dietitian and TV presenter (upfield. com), suggests you might want to consider your diet too. “Almost all foods contain histamine, the chemical our bodies release in
response to allergens. The longer a food ages or ferments, the higher the level of histamine, and the increased likelihood of impacting the allergy symptoms,” explains Tew. “So, high
levels of histamine in our diet can intensify hay fever symptoms, like runny noses and headaches.”
She suggests high-histamine foods include cheese, fermented cream, packaged meat and smoked fish, and recommends a diet “with lots of fresh produce like fruit and vegetables, which contain lower histamine levels”.
Tew warns against making big diet changes too quickly however, instead saying: “Try
adapting your diet to reduce histamine
levels for just a couple of weeks, and monitor your resulting hay fever symptoms. You can then reintroduce foods individually, to help understand what triggers your hay fever symptoms.”
Some alcohol, like red wine and beer, contain a high amount of histamines, so they
might also affect your hay fever.
THERE IS NO CURE FOR HAY FEVER AND THE BEST WE CAN DO IS TRY TO PREVENT AND MANAGE SYMPTOMS, SUCH AS SNEEZING AND COUGHING, AN ITCHY THROAT AND FATIGUE
POP PETROLEUM JELLY BELOW YOUR NOSE
Ooi recommends using Vaseline as a pollen barrier beneath your nose. “This common petroleum jelly-based product can play a huge part in the battle against hay fever by keeping pollen out of the nose,” she says.
“By dabbing a little around the nostrils, you can help prevent the tiny airborne substance from entering your respiratory system when you breathe in.”
STOP SMOKING
“While quitting a smoking habit is good for your health all year round, it can also be a useful weapon in the war against hay fever,” Ooi says.
“Cigarette smoke can make symptoms of hay fever worse, as it can irritate the lining of your airways.”