The season of runny noses and watery eyes is here.
So if you’re one of the tens of millions of people in the UK affected by hay fever, you might be looking for tips on how to get through the coming months.
Well, MailOnline has got you covered.
Despite the city’s lack of open grassy areas, the combination of pollution and pollen can make things worse for hay fever sufferers, experts say
Avoid dirt roads
It may sound strange, but your hay fever flare-ups can flare up worse on polluted roads, 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 is even worse in the cities, where a combination of pollination and diesel exhaust particles push the pollen grains deeper into the airways, which can lead to more allergies,” says dr. Adrian Morris, 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 in the country, where you’d naturally think it would be worse.”
Stay indoors during these times
The pollen load can also be higher and lower at different times of the day.
Peak levels usually occur in the late morning when pollen particles rise high into the atmosphere with the warm air.
Slowly, during the day and towards early evening, they tend to fall back to nose level.
So it is best not to go 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 the pollen counts to be incredibly high.
“Maybe it’s been raining lately and it’s a really hot day and the grass gets pollinated in the morning and those pollen grains go up in the air.”
He added: “When night falls and this peak coincides with weather conditions that are favorable for pollen from the grasses, there is a huge spike in pollen in what they call a ‘pollen bomb’.
Close the window
Opening windows to let in a breeze may be preferable on a spring day.
But closing house and car windows can help reduce hay fever symptoms by reducing the amount of pollen inhaled, says Manchester-based pharmacist Thorrun Govind.
Dr. Morris said: “When you drive your car, you have to have the windows down.
“Turn on the air conditioning because most modern cars have a pollen filter in the air conditioning.
“Close the windows during the day around 11am and around 6pm to prevent the pollen spike from coming through your window.”
To keep the pollen load in the apartment as low as possible, regular vacuuming makes sense, experts say.
Protecting your 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.
Being changed
Instead of just circulating in the air, pollen can also cling to clothes and hair.
And staying in clothes worn outside makes the runny nose and itching worse.
Ms. Govind suggests showering and changing clothes after being outside to wash off pollen.
Even hanging clothes out to dry can cause hay fever.
Dr Morris said: “If you hang laundry outside during the day, all the pollen can collect on your laundry and bedding.
“Then you go to bed that night and get a good dose of pollen from what was 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 back or wearing a hat when exposed to the elements.
Applying petroleum jelly around your nostrils is a good way to protect yourself from pollen. This helps to create a barrier and “catch” the pollen before you inhale it
Apply petroleum jelly around your nostrils
Multipurpose petroleum jelly can help fight fever.
Rubbing 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 a little petroleum jelly and wipe it along the edge of your nose.”
“It can even trap some of the pollen grains as they enter your nose.”
Mr Ali recommends applying it around the nostrils morning, day and night again – which can help hay fever sufferers sleep better.
Because the gel can simultaneously soothe dry and itchy skin irritated by a constantly runny nose while blocking pollen, experts say.
What causes hay fever and what are the symptoms?
Hay fever affects millions of people. It is an allergic reaction to pollen, usually when it comes into contact with the mouth, nose, eyes and throat.
Hay fever symptoms are worse between March and September when pollen counts are at their highest.
The picture explains how you get an allergic reaction like sneezing and coughing from pollen
What are the symptoms?
- Unlike a cold, which only lasts a week or two, hay fever lasts for months
- sneezing and coughing
- Itchy, red or watery eyes
- Runny or closed nose
- Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- loss of smell
- feeling tired
- Headache
- earache
Source: GGZ
Do not smoke
Smoking not only increases your risk of cancer, lung disease and heart attacks, but it can also worsen your hay fever symptoms.
“Don’t smoke or be around smoke, as it makes your symptoms worse,” advises Ms. Govind on.
This is because the chemicals in cigarettes and the smoke they give off can irritate the lining of your nose, mouth and lungs.
Experts say it makes symptoms like a cough and sore throat worse.
“Removing smoke from the air we breathe reduces inflammation in the nose and throat, makes breathing easier and reduces 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 starting to rise, you can take antihistamines.
“They work much better if you can take them before the event instead of rushing after the symptoms.”
Antihistamines work by blocking the effects of histamine – a chemical released by the body when it detects something harmful, such as B. an infection.
This causes blood vessels to dilate and skin to swell, which helps protect the body.
But in people with hay fever, the body sees pollen as a threat and produces histamine – leading to itchy, watery eyes, a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and skin rashes.
Antihistamines help stop this reaction if taken before exposure to pollen, or reduce the severity of symptoms if taken afterwards.
However, some people experience side effects such as drowsiness, dry mouth and blurred vision when using the drug.
However, pharmacists insist that newer drugs are less likely to cause unwanted side effects.
Ms Govind said: “There are still possible side effects of second-generation antihistamines, such as drowsiness.
“However, the chance of experiencing this is much lower than with first-generation antihistamines, and most will not experience it.”
Mr Ali warned that the severity of hay fever symptoms can change from year to year and advised patients to speak to their pharmacist.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
