Most people jump for joy when the weather gets hotter and the flowers start to bloom. But that normally means the pollen count is higher, so for 13 million of us in the UK, we start to put up our defences. Tissues at the ready!
Hay fever sufferers will be all too familiar with the symptoms; runny nose, itchy throat and eyes and not forgetting, sneezing. Antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays and eye drops are the most common remedy and for most of us, they suffice.
However, for the people who have tried all of the above and are fed up with sitting inside for most of the summer months, there is another option.
Dr Rupa Parmar, our Private General Practitioner, is now offering an alternative Hay Fever treatment that can potentially defend you against pollen, while improving your quality of life. Dr Parmar gave us a little more insight into this treatment…
Why would someone opt to have this alternative hay fever treatment?
If you’ve tried everything, tablets, sprays and drops and you still have debilitating symptoms; then this could be the treatment for you. The hay fever dose is used for extreme cases, where hay fever can affect lives, their jobs, home and social situations.
Hay fever affects people in different months, would the alternative hay fever treatment still be effective for everyone?
The hay fever booster is designed to treat all different types of hay fever, such as tree, grass and weed pollen.
When would be the best time to have this treatment option?
The sooner the better is what I say, as pollen can affect people as early as March, especially if we’ve had an unusually warm winter, like the one we’ve just had. However, if you usually suffer from hay fever symptoms, starting your defence action around April/May is a great time to nip it in the bud (excuse the pun), which also applies for the booster.
How is it administered?
We administered the booster into the buttocks, an area that causes less pain and where it can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Would you need more than one dose?
No in most cases one session is enough for the symptoms to subside and would be only extremely rare cases, that a patient might need a second dose. Remember that the start of the season is the time to get the most benefit of this alternative hay fever treatment.
Who might not be able to use this treatment?
Patients going through chemotherapy, on oral steroids, or already suffer from a low immune system, would not be suitable for this treatment plan. We would only be able to offer it to eligible patients.
Are there any side effects?
From my experience the majority of my patients don’t suffer with any form of side effect. Although, like all medicines, can potentially cause short term and long term effects. Short term effects can involve mood swings, headaches, dizziness, nausea and mild sleep disruption. While the long term effects can involve, thinning of the bones and increased risk of diabetes.
How does a hay fever sufferer take the next steps to arrange this treatment option?
The patient would need a consultation with me, to discuss the treatment, their medical history and any side effects that could occur. The consultation and treatment would be carried out in the same appointment.
And finally, how long does it take for this hay fever treatment to take effect?
This alternative hay fever treatment is very effective and would take no more than 5 days to subside symptoms.
How can I get an appointment for this treatment option?
You can call us at Midland Health on 0121 769 0999 or alternatively send us an email hello@midlandhealth.co.uk and we will get you booked in for an appointment with our GP Dr Parmar on a date and time that suits you.