What Is The Best Way To Treat Hay Fever?

Hay fever is an allergic condition, caused by an adverse reaction to pollen, that is thought to affect up to one in five people. It’s usually worse in the spring and summer months, and certain weather conditions, such as blustery winds, high temperatures, and humidity can make it worse.

How bad symptoms are will depend on the pollen count, which is the measurement of the number of grains of pollen per cubic meter of air. The concept was first introduced by the British allergist and immunologist William Frankland during the 1950s.

The pollen count information is released as a five-day forecast by the Met Office, divided in to the different regions of the UK. The pollen levels are classed as not significant, low, moderate, high, or very high, to allow hay fever suffers to take appropriate levels of preventative action.

Although we tend to think of the pollen season as April to September, pollen counts can be high during the winter months too. Pollen is released by plants and trees as part of their seeding process. It’s a very fine dust that can be inhaled by humans, and if they are allergic to it, they may experience inflammation and irritation of the nasal passages and eyes.

Hay fever is often accompanied by eczema and asthma, and tends to run in families. It usually begins in childhood, although adults can sometimes develop it out of the blue. Grass pollen tends to cause the most severe reactions, although other pollen can also cause symptoms, such as tree pollen released in spring, and weed pollen release in autumn.

Common symptoms include sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy inflamed eyes, ears, and throat. Some people may experience headaches, facial swelling, and disrupted sleep patterns. There’s no cure for hay fever, but it is treatable and there are also preventative measures that you can take.

One of the most common preventative treatments are antihistamine tablets, which are available to buy at pharmacy stores. They work by suppressing histamines, which is the chemical the body produces to attack allergens, and is responsible for the excessive sneezing and itchiness of hay fever.

Some older types of antihistamines may cause drowsiness, so it’s best to check the packet carefully if you are intending to drive or operate machinery. Nasal sprays and gels can be applied directly to the nose to prevent pollen entering, and work quicker than tablets. Corticosteroid nasal sprays also help to combat itchy eyes and swollen sinuses.

If you really wanted to avoid hay fever, then you could stay indoors with the windows closed, but this is generally not practical or desirable during the summer time. As well as medication, you can wear wrap around sun glasses to protect your eyes when outside, avoid mowing grass or walking near freshly mowed grass, and avoid keeping flowers indoors.

Follow the weather forecast for the pollen count, and if it is high or very high, avoid going out if you can do so. If you have to go out, change your clothes and shower as soon as you arrive home.

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