Winter is miserable for most of us, but spring - as bright and blooming as it is - can be just as rubbish for those who suffer from allergies.
Hay fever is a common allergic reaction in which our bodies react to the pollen in the air during the spring and summer season. When the pollen enters your body, your immune system sees it as an invader and starts reacting to attack it.
The body's response releases a chemical called histamine, which makes blood vessels wider and triggers allergy symptoms like a blocked nose or streaming, itchy eyes.
Some people start experiencing hay fever as early as February and it can affect them until September. Here are expert tips to tackle hay fever from Dr Subashini M, Clinical Lead at Holland & Barrett.
What causes hay fever and what are the symptoms?
In the UK, hay fever is mostly triggered by pollen from trees, grasses and weeds, as well as mould in the environment. The time when your symptoms flare up should give you an idea of the type of pollen you're reacting to.
If your symptoms are worse between February and June, you're likely reacting to tree pollen. Those having a reaction from May to July are probably triggered by grass pollen, which is the most common cause of hay fever. People having hay fever symptoms from June to September are reacting to weed pollen.
Common hay fever symptoms include:
- Sneezing
- Runny or blocked nose
- Watery, itchy eyes
- Itchy mouth or tongue
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Wheezing
What can you do to treat hay fever?
Dr Subashini M explained that you can monitor the pollen count to try and avoid peak hay fever trigger times.
She recommends checking the weather forecast, minimising your exposure to pollen by wearing sunglasses, and tying your hair back when outside as well as changing your clothes when you come inside.
You can also simply stay indoors whenever possible, close your windows, dry your clothes indoors, turn off fans and make sure to vacuum and dust your home regularly.
Dr Subashini provides another useful tip, saying: "You can also apply a balm around your nostrils and eye sockets to help catch pollen before you can breathe it in, or it gets in your eyes."
She recommends choosing organic balm made with sunflower oil and beeswax.
Other remedies include herbal and nutritional alternatives like nettle tea, Vitamin C, Quercetin, Bromelain, inhaling with a dry-salt pipe 10 to 25 minutes every day, getting some vitamin D and eating locally produced honey to build up resistance to pollen - although there is no scientific evidence this can work.
If you find your symptoms are bad enough to interfere with your daily life, Dr Subashini advises that we consult our doctor or pharmacist and treat symptoms with anti-histamines and corticosteroids, which help reduce inflammation. The medication can be taken in tablets, nasal sprays or eye drops.
When is the best time to start hay fever treatment?
Allergy specialists advice that we start medication before symptoms start at the beginning of the season, and every day thereafter.
Start taking antihistamine medication and using steroid nasal sprays about two weeks before your symptoms usually start. By taking medication before you come into contact with allergens, you'll be able to lessen the severity of your symptoms.
If your hay fever symptoms tend to be severe and persistent, immunotherapy - which involves being exposed to small amounts of pollen over time - may be able to help increase your resistance to its allergic effects.
