About Hayfever
Hay fever (or seasonal allergic rhinitis) is caused by an allergy to pollen. It's a common allergic condition affecting 1 in 5 people in the UK at some point in their life and can cause misery just as the weather is getting nicer. Read on for some further information about the condition and for some tips on how to manage your symptoms.
Symptoms of Hayfever
When the air pollen count is raised, the main symptoms experienced are:
- Sneezing
- Blocked/runny/itchy nose
- Itchy/red eyes
- Itchy throat (sometimes with mucus running down the back of the throat which is called 'post-nasal drip)
- Tiredness
The higher the pollen count, the worse the symptoms can be.
Pollen is a fine powdery molecule which is released by plants as part of their reproductive cycle. A protein in the pollen can react with the sinuses, nose, throat and eyes to cause irritation and inflammation.
There are three common types of pollen which cause the majority of hay fever:
- Tree pollen - released during Spring (March to May)
- Grass pollen - released May to July (most common culprit in hay fever)
- Weed pollen - released June to September
Treatment of Hayfever
Prevention
There are a number of things that you can try to do to reduce the impact of the pollen:
- Stay indoors: Check the pollen forecasts daily and if possible try to stay indoors when it is high. On rainy days the pollen count will be lower. Try to keep windows and doors shut when the pollen count is high.
- Avoid pollen outdoors:
Treatment
There are a number of medications which can help targeted at relieving each symptom:
- Antihistamines:
- Steroid nasal sprays:
- Eye drops:
- Decongestions:
- Immunotherapy:
Our doctors are available now to help you with hayfever or any other medical condition which you would normally see your GP about. Book an appointment now and start feeling better right away.