Got hay fever? Here’s your ultimate 2023 survival guide
The season of runny noses and watery eyes has now arrived.
So if you’re one of the many millions of people in the UK affected by hay fever, you may be looking for tips on how to get through the months ahead.
Well, MailOnline has you covered.
Despite the city’s lack of open grassy areas, the combination of pollution and pollen could make things worse for hay fever sufferers, experts say
Avoid polluted streets
It may sound strange, but your hay fever can flare up worse on polluted streets, experts say.
Despite the city’s lack of open lawns, the dazzling combination of pollution and pollen — a fine powder that plants release to reproduce — can be a nightmare for sufferers.
‘It’s worse in the cities because you have a combination of pollination and diesel exhaust particles that push the pollen grains deeper into the airways, which can cause more allergy,’ says Dr Adrian Morris, a specialist at the Surrey Allergy Clinic.
He added: “The combination of traffic and pollen is bad.
“So you’re probably worse off in the city than you are in the country, where of course you’d think it would be worse.”
Stay indoors during these times
Pollen counts can also be higher and lower at different times of the day.
Peaks usually occur in the late morning, when pollen particles rise high into the atmosphere with the warming air.
Slowly, during the day and towards early evening, they tend to fall back to nose level.
So it is best not to walk outside at these times of the day.
A hay fever sufferer’s worst nightmare occurs when high pollen levels are accompanied by wet weather followed by sunshine, especially in a polluted area, as this can create a ‘pollen bomb’.
Dr. Morris said: ‘It’s a combination of factors that cause pollen counts to be incredibly high.
“Maybe it’s been raining lately and it’s a really hot day and the grass is pollinating in the morning and those pollen grains are rising into the air.”
He added: “When it comes nightfall and that peak coincides with weather conditions that are conducive to the pollen of the grasses, you get a huge increase in pollen, what they call a “pollen bomb.”
Close the window
Opening windows to let in a breeze may be preferable on a spring day.
But keeping home and car windows closed can help reduce hay fever symptoms by reducing the amount of pollen inhaled, says Manchester-based pharmacist Thorrun Govind.
Dr. Morris said, “When you’re driving your car, you should have the windows closed.
‘Turn on the air conditioning, because most modern cars have a pollen filter in the air conditioning.
“Have the windows closed around 11 a.m. and around 6 p.m. during the day so the peak of pollen doesn’t come through your window.”
To keep the amount of pollen in your home to a minimum, regular vacuuming is also a good idea, experts say.
Protecting the eyes from pollen can also reduce symptoms, pharmacists say.
“A basic but simple piece of advice worth following is to wear glasses or sunglasses during the months when you have the most hay fever,” says Rizwan Ali, a pharmacist at Rowlands Pharmacy in Hale, Greater. Manchester.
Get changed
Instead of just circulating in the air, pollen can also cling to clothing and hair.
And staying in clothes worn outdoors will make sniffling and itching worse.
Ms. Govind suggests showering and changing after being outside to wash off any pollen.
Even hanging your clothes out to dry can flare up hay fever.
Dr. Morris said, “If you hang laundry outside during the day, it can collect all the pollen on your laundry and bedding.
“Then you go to bed that night and get a good dose of pollen from what has been collected during the day.”
Ali warned that even hair can act as a pollen magnet.
But those with long locks can pull it off by tying it up or wearing a hat when exposed to the elements.
Smearing petroleum jelly around your nostrils is a good way to protect yourself from pollen. It helps to create a barrier and ‘catch’ the pollen before you inhale it
Smear petroleum jelly around your nostrils
Multi-use Vaseline can help fight fever.
Rubbing around the nostrils creates a barrier and “traps” pollen before you can inhale it, according to Ms. Govind.
Dr. Morris said, “Take a cotton swab and dip it in some petroleum jelly and wipe it along the edge of the nose.”
“That can even trap some of the pollen grains as they enter your nose.”
Mr Ali advises reapplying it around the nostrils morning, day and night – which can help hay fever sufferers sleep better.
This is because the gel can simultaneously soothe dry and itchy skin irritated by a constantly running nose, while also blocking pollen, experts say.
What causes hay fever and what are the symptoms?
Hay fever affects millions of people. It’s an allergic reaction to pollen, usually when it comes in contact with your mouth, nose, eyes, and throat.
Hay fever symptoms are worse between March and September when pollen counts are highest.
The image explains how you get an allergic reaction, such as sneezing and coughing, from pollen
What are the symptoms?
- Unlike a cold that only lasts one to two weeks, hay fever lasts for months
- Sneezing and coughing
- Itchy, red or watery eyes
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- Loss of smell
- Feeling tired
- Headache
- Earache
Source: GGZ
Do not smoke
In addition to increasing your risk of cancer, lung disease and heart attacks, smoking can also make your hay fever symptoms worse.
“Don’t smoke or be around smoke because it will make your symptoms worse,” Ms Govind advises.
This is because the chemicals in cigarettes and the smoke they emit can irritate the mucous membrane — the inner lining of the nose, mouth and lungs.
Experts say this worsens symptoms such as coughing and an itchy throat.
“Removing smoke from the air you breathe reduces inflammation in the nose and throat, making it easier to breathe and reducing the severity of allergy symptoms,” says Tyler Woodward, CEO of Eden’s Gate.
Take antihistamines
Taking antihistamines is also a common way to prepare for hay fever season.
Dr. Morris said, “If you see the pollen count start to rise, you can take antihistamines.
“They work much better if you can take them before the event instead of chasing the symptoms.”
Antihistamines work by blocking the effects of histamine – a chemical released by the body when it detects something harmful, such as an infection.
It causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, which helps protect the body.
But in people with hay fever, the body sees pollen as a threat and produces histamine – which causes itchy, watery eyes, a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and skin rashes.
Antihistamines help stop this reaction if taken before coming into contact with pollen, or lessen the severity of symptoms if you take them afterward.
However, some people experience side effects such as drowsiness, dry mouth, and blurred vision when taking the medication.
But pharmacists insist that newer drugs are less likely to cause unwanted side effects.
Ms Govind said: ‘There are still potential side effects of second-generation antihistamines, such as drowsiness.
“However, the chance of experiencing this is much less than with first-generation antihistamines and most will not experience it.”
Mr Ali warned that the severity of people’s hay fever symptoms can change from year to year, so he advised patients to speak to their pharmacist.