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Hay Fever

Posted: Apr 28, 2021

Hay Fever

THE incidence of asthma and allergies is rising rapidly and the most likely cause is our Western lifestyle. A changed diet, increased exposure to chemicals and pollutants and a near sanitized way of life that protects us from germs have joined to make us susceptible to these chronic ailments. Add to this our increasingly sterile habits due to Covid which will most certainly add to the incidence rate.

 

 

Hay-fever is usually a seasonal (mid-summer) problem but can start earlier and even drag on until late autumn.  Most sufferers are troubled with grass pollen only (10,000 pollen grains fit on the tip of a pin) but a significant number are troubled with a combination of tree and grass pollen allergy.  Their season starts in early spring.

 

  1. Tree pollen – late March to mid-May.
  2. Grass pollen – mid-May to July.
  3. Weed pollen – end of June to September

 

 

Hay Fever Symptoms summary:

  • Sneezing
  • Blocked and runny nose: the swollen and irritable nasal lining oozes clear mucus
  • Sinus congestion with headaches, especially along the forehead
  • Itchy, red and watery eyes
  • Puffy eyes and lower eyelids: as pollen grains attack the eye lining the skin underneath the lower eye lids fills with fluid making them puffy. 
  • Cough and occasional wheeze, especially if you suffer from asthma.
  • Ears popping with occasional hearing impairment
  • Diminished senses of taste and smell (severe hay-fever sufferers)
  • Itch along roof of mouth and back of throat when eating certain foods
  • Feeling of intense lethargy

 

There is currently no cure for Hay Fever and no way to fully prevent it. For some, the risk of increased and severe symptoms outweighs the desire to be outdoors.

The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to help manage symptoms, reduce your exposure to pollen and ensure you can get out and about this summer. 

 

  1. Start treatments early: By beginning treatments at the start of the Hay fever season it can be easier to keep Hay fever under control. Steroid sprays reduce inflammation in the nose and dampen down the immune reaction, reducing symptoms. The sprays can take a few days to get to work properly so be patient. Oral antihistamines can be taken as a handy once daily dose and reduce symptoms within the body. For itchy streaming eyes, there are a number of anti-histamine eye preparations for sale in pharmacies. One of the best treatments I find for hay fever and rhinitis (inflamed and stuffy nose) is the use of a saline rinse. This preparation washes pollen and excessive mucus out of the oro-nasal cavity, providing immediate relief. It can be carried out as often as required and has the bonus of being completely safe in pregnancy.
  2. Consider your wardrobe choices: Wear a sunhat and wrap around glasses. Wearing a face mask helps greatly.
  3. Pop an allergen balm or simply Vaseline around the nostrils to catch pollen
  4. Brave the rain: Pollen counts are at their lowest during damp rainy weather so use this opportunity to get out and about!
  5. Keep windows closed during the day and avoid drying your clothes outside during hayfever season. Pets will carry in pollen on their coats so be aware of this. Many sufferers wash their pets more frequently at this time to reduce allergens.
  6. If you have been outside on a day with a high pollen count it’s a good idea to have a shower and wash hair when you come inside to remove pollen.
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