With nearly half of the UK population suffering from hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, the beginning of a new season can cause an increase in symptoms
Every spring, nearly half of the UK population starts suffering from hay fever – far earlier than summer, like everyone assumes. Those affected are often left miserable on beautiful days when they should be enjoying the new season’s sunshine.
The official name for hay fever is allergic rhinitis and it has similar symptoms to the common cold – a runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing and congestion. But while a cold is caused by a virus that tends to stay in the body for three to seven days, hay fever is caused by an allergy so it lasts as long as you’re exposed to whatever is causing it.
“The allergic reaction occurs when the lining of the nose becomes exposed and sensitised to certain triggers, such as pollen,” explains Dr Rosie Godeseth, associate medical director at Vitality. “On exposure to these triggers, histamine and other inflammatory molecules are released, which act on nerve endings and blood vessels to produce typical hay fever symptoms. It affects certain individuals based on their own combination of genetic factors and environmental exposures.”
Dr Rosie warns asthma sufferers to take particular care as the weather warms up, as pollen can worsen or even trigger asthma symptoms. While there is no known cure for hay fever, many people can manage their symptoms with over-the-counter medication, such as antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops. As with many other allergies, the ideal situation is to avoid exposure to the triggering allergens. So people with hay fever can take steps such as shutting windows when the pollen count is high and avoiding buying fresh flowers.
There are also some natural and easy remedies to try that can help alleviate the symptoms of hay fever…
Vaseline
Placing a small amount of Vaseline around your nose and eyes can catch pollen and prevent it from causing aggravation. “Vaseline provides a barrier that catches pollen particles before they enter your body,” says Dr Rosie. “It also relieves the sore skin often caused by hay fever symptoms.”
Take a shower
On warm, dry days when the pollen count is at its highest, you can avoid worsening your symptoms by taking a shower whenever you get home. Washing your hair and putting on fresh clothes will remove any lingering pollen and lower the risk of irritation. It’s best to avoid drying your washing outdoors as your laundry can collect pollen that could then get transferred around your home.
Eat local honey
Some research suggests eating local honey can lessen the effects of hay fever as it exposes sufferers to the same pollen that is present where they live and helps the body to naturally form a tolerance. “While anecdotal evidence supports this, we should approach this critically,” says Dr Veronika Matutyte from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. “I recommend it as part of an integrated approach to managing hay fever.”
Shut windows and doors
While it can be tempting to keep your windows and doors open to allow fresh air inside, this allows pollen to enter the home which in turn can aggravate symptoms. It sounds obvious, but keep them closed as much as possible to stop pollen from coming indoors. Some sufferers find that having an air purifier in their living room or bedroom useful for catching stray particles that have made it inside.
Get to grips with pollen seasons
There are as many as 30 different types of pollen that cause hay fever and it is possible to be allergic to multiple types. Dr Rosie advises, “Make a note of when your symptoms are at their worst so you can take preventative measures. Tree pollen tends to be released between March and April, grass pollen between May and July, and weed pollen between June and August.”
‘I remember dreading outdoor activities’
Feng shui consultant and manifestation coach Karena Sophia, 44, from Worcester, manages her hay fever with natural remedies…
“I didn’t start suffering from hay fever until my teen years. I would dread outdoor activities and sit with dozens of tissues from May to July, with itchy eyes and a streaming nose. It didn’t change until I got pregnant at 26.
“I never liked antihistamines as they made me drowsy – even ones that weren’t supposed to. Then I got pregnant in February 2007 and knew I had to start preparing my body before hay fever season. I saw a nutritionist in London and started taking her pregnancy multivitamins every day, which contained 180mg of vitamin C, as well as other things. The year that I was pregnant I didn’t have any signs of hay fever.
“The following year, after giving birth, the hay fever returned, so I started taking Vitamin C in 250-500mg tablets when I had symptoms, but it didn’t do much. I realised I should have started taking them earlier in the year.
“Some years I’d forget and have to rely on antihistamines when it got bad, but I’ve always preferred natural remedies to medicines. Now I’m a certified feng shui consultant and manifestation coach and my work is very much about nature and energy healing and I’m even more of an advocate for natural alternatives. It’s been many years since I’ve touched an antihistamine.
“I’ve also discovered that localised honey naturally programs the immune system to get used to pollen too, so I take a spoonful every morning from February onwards and I rarely suffer now. I’m pleased to say hay fever, as it was, is finally a thing of the past.”
Learn more about Karena at thegracefulhealer.co.uk
