Well Pharmacy is advising people to make sure they are prepared for hay fever season by picking up medication early, and making sure they’ve got enough in their medicine cabinet to not have to go out if the pollen count is high.
Hay fever medication such as antihistamines is best started before pollen is fully in the air, so the experts are urging people to speak to their local pharmacist about what support is available as soon as possible.
George Sandhu, Deputy Superintendent Pharmacist at Well Pharmacy, said: “People who don’t suffer from hay fever sometimes think it’s just itchy eyes and a bit of a runny nose, but for millions of people it can turn the spring and summer into an unhappy experience.
“Hay fever can affect the whole respiratory system, and lead to a blocked nose and wheezing, amongst other things. The name would suggest you’ll experience a fever, but you won’t – so if you do have one, you may well have a cold or Covid instead.
“Our advice is firstly to talk to your pharmacist about what might help to relieve your symptoms, such as antihistamines, sprays and other treatments, and start using them as soon as possible.
“Other than that, it’s important to think about whether there is anything you can do to limit your exposure to pollen. There are apps available that can tell you how high the pollen count is likely to be on a certain day, for example, so you can plan to stay indoors. You should also try and avoid walking on wet or cut grass if you can, and keep windows and doors shut as much as possible.
“Finally, you can put Vaseline around your nose to trap pollen. It’s not glamorous but it works. And wear wraparound sunglasses when outside if you can, as it can stop pollen reaching your eyes. If you are unsure on how to manage your hay fever, our pharmacy team will be more than happy to help.”
