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Hay fever
Spring and Summer is no joke for hay fever sufferers and we’re just at the start of the long journey from March to September.
Before you stock up on antihistamines, have a chat with your pharmacist – they will be able to advise you on the right combination of products and self-care to combat your hay fever.
If your symptoms are so bad that they are interfering with your daily life despite taking antihistamines, speak to your local GP service.
Symptoms
- Sneezing and coughing
- A runny or blocked nose
- Itchy, red or watery eyes
- Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- Loss of smell
- Pain around your temples and forehead
- Headache
- Earache
- Feeling tired
If you have asthma, you might also…
- have a tight feeling in your chest
- be short of breath
- wheeze and cough
Hay fever can last for weeks or even months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks.
What you can do to help yourself:
Do:
- Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
- Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes
- Shower and change clothes after you have been outside
- Stay indoors whenever possible
- Keep windows and doors closed as much as possible
- Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
- Buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter
Don't:
- Cut or walk on grass
- Spend too much time outside
- Keep fresh flowers in the house
- Make or be around smoke – it makes symptoms worse
- Dry clothes outside as they can catch pollen
- Let pets into the house if possible as they can carry pollen indoors