Did you know that today is the first official day of Spring? That means lighter nights and trees filled with blossom are on the horizon! For some, that might also mean you need to stock up on the antihistamine tablets to stop the pollen from affecting your day to day life.
Pollen count is at its highest between March and September, and this is when your hay fever symptoms will be at their very worst. Not sure if you have hay fever? Here are just a few symptoms:
- Sneezing and coughing
- Runny or blocked nose
- Itchy, red or watery eyes
We understand that in warm, humid weather, you want to be outside, having barbecues and making the most of things. Unfortunately for hay fever sufferers, a combination of smoke (which can make your symptoms worse) and being outside will result in your symptoms rearing their ugly head.
But, you don’t want to miss out on the fun, right? Although there’s no cure for hay fever, and you can’t prevent it from happening, there are things you can do to ease your symptoms during the upcoming months:
- Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
- Wear sunglasses whenever outside to stop the pollen from getting into your eyes
- Speak to your pharmacist and stock up on antihistamines, nasal sprays and lots of tissues
The biggest tip of all is to be prepared. If you’ve suffered from hay fever in the past, then you will need to firstly identify which kind of pollen you’re allergic to. This can be done with a Test Your Intolerance test. Different pollens will strike at different times of year – if your hay fever starts early, this is most likely down to tree pollen, whereas grass and weed pollens will be later on in the year. So our test will give you a good idea of when you should start taking action to lessen your symptoms.
With hay fever, sometimes over-the-counter antihistamines just don’t quite cut it. This is the time where you should seek advice from your GP in case there are any prescription medications that will help with your symptoms. We understand that hay fever can have a serious impact on your day to day life – especially when everyone wants to be outside enjoying the summer fun – so don’t be afraid to seek professional medical advice if your hay fever is stopping you from doing so.
If you’ve been feeling any of the above symptoms and want to clarify whether you have a pollen intolerance, a Test Your Intolerance test will help give you a better understanding.
