Hay Fever Treatments

Despite the warmer weather, many people dread the spring-time. It is the start of ‘hay-fever season’ which can lead to ongoing symptoms such as a runny nose, sore eyes and sneezing. Combined with a ‘foggy’ head, these symptoms can cause significant obstruction to everyday life. Consultation with your Midland Health GP may be useful for planning the way through hay-fever season and finding easy solutions to reduce discomfort and make things more bearable.

What is Hay Fever?

Hay fever is the basic response from your autoimmune system which is trying to prevent the pollen from entering your body. Although pollen is not dangerous to your health, the body has a heightened reaction to it and this is when patients experience itchy nose and eyes, running nose, sneezing and nasal congestion. The period one might experience these symptoms varies on the area they live in. Usually, it starts late spring and continues up until September. 

Hay fever Treatments in Birmingham

At Midland Health we champion Hay Fever Treatments and Rhinolight treatments for hay fever; however, this is not the extent of our treatment options. For hay fever sufferers, our GPs have access to an extensive range of treatments, helping you to gain relief from your symptoms.

Hay Fever Medication

For mild sufferers of hay fever, over-the-counter doses of antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops may be sufficient in building up your tolerance to pollen. However, for those who experience little relief, there are stronger medications our GPs can offer. For example, at our private allergy clinic in Birmingham, we can offer hay fever shots after a GP consultation.

Essential Oils for Hay Fever

A surprising treatment for hay fever is essential oils. Specialist combinations of these can be extremely effective in reducing symptoms of hay fever. For some, they can also act as a preventative. Essential oils appeal to many individuals and parents as they are a natural and safe way to treat hay fever symptoms.

Non-Medical Alternatives

In addition to medical intervention, our professional GPs also recommend trying these non-medical tips:

• Limiting time spent outside, reducing your entire body’s interaction with pollen
• Showering more frequently to rinse off any pollen
• Closing windows day and night
• Using Vaseline around the nose and nostrils

Allergy Testing at Midland Health

Do you know what’s triggering your allergy symptoms? At Midland Health, we can perform an allergy test at our private clinics, helping you to understand what is causing your discomfort. We can test against a variety of pollen as well as additional inhalants.

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The Hay Fever Treatment

The Hay Fever Treatment is available to Over 18s only.

The Hay Fever Treatment can reduce symptoms of hay-fever for the entire season. If you have previously been administered other treatments to combat hay fever, such as oral antihistamine tablets, topical eye drops, one solution to alleviate your hay fever symptoms is to get the Hay Fever shot. This is a steroid treatment, recommended for those who have severe symptoms.

How does the Hay Fever Treatment work?

During your appointment, our GPs will take the time to detail the benefits as well as the side effects of the Hay Fever Treatment. They will make sure that the Hay Fever Treatment is the right treatment for you, assessing whether other treatments might be best suitable for your needs. The dose that a patient needs is calculated according to their body weight. 1mg per kg is the standard way to find out the right dose for patients each season. The Hay Fever treatment is administered intramuscularly and the effects will start working within one to 48 hours after having had the treatment.

The effectiveness of hay fever treatment can vary from person to person, as each individual's response to the treatment can differ. The doctor could recommend a second dose during a consultation based on the specific needs and response of the individual.

What are the Benefits of the Hay Fever Treatment?

-Patients require one dose to reduce the symptoms caused by the hay fever for the entire season (up to three months);
-Cost-effective compared to investing in all other treatments;
-The treatment does not go through the digestive system or the liver;
-The symptoms of the hay fever will stop your hay fever symptoms for a whole season.

Discussion with a Midland Health GP to answer and questions or concerns is recommended to work out if the hay fever treatment is right for you. You can book a private appointment at our clinic based in Birmingham and our friendly GPs will offer all the support you need.

Rhinolight Treatment for Hay Fever

At Midland Health, we also offer Rhinolight treatment for the relief of hay fever symptoms, as well as eczemas and rashes caused by other allergic reactions. When other common solutions, such as sprays and steroids fail, UV light therapy on the nose can be a successful hay fever treatment for both children and adults.  

The Rhinolight treatment is non-invasive and pain-free, with some patients reporting an improvement from as early as the first session. As the application of phototherapy for hay fever symptoms boasts up to 90% success rate, it’s a very popular choice amongst our hay fever patients. 

How does Rhinolight Treatment Work?

We use modern Rhinolight machines to shine a special high-intensity UV light into each nostril. Each treatment session takes just 2-3 minutes. The procedure is completed every few days for at least  3-4 weeks to relieve the symptoms of hay fever. 

Although no treatment can guarantee results, most people report alleviation of their symptoms within the first two weeks of UV light treatment with a Rhinolight machine.  

Once you have completed a full course of treatment over a month, you can schedule follow-up “booster” sessions every 2-3 months to maintain the effectiveness of the treatment. 

What are the benefits of Rhinolight phototherapy? 

UV therapy offers a number of benefits for people suffering from hay fever and other allergies including:

• Blocking histamine to prevent allergy and hay fever symptoms that impact the nose and the sinuses 
• Destroying some of the cells responsible for allergies (eosinophils and lymphocytes)
• Reducing the number of ECP and IL-5 in nasal secretions - they are amongst the main triggers of rhinitis and sinusitis

As the Rhinolight machine does not damage the nose or the sinuses and the procedure is completely pain-free, it’s a perfect solution for your seasonal hay fever relief and allergic rhinitis.

Midland Health Hay Fever Experts in Birmingham

The Midland Health ethos is to enable everyone to access professional and exceptional medical care when they need it most. That is why our entire medical team prides itself on providing exemplary patient care, ensuring all patients are more than satisfied with the care they receive. To equal their wealth of experience and medical knowledge, they have access to our state-of-the-art clinics complete with the latest technology and equipment.  

Our allergy specialists at Midland Health can offer a wide range of allergy treatments from medications to innovative injections. You no longer need to struggle through the seasons, with our GPs, you can receive the treatment you desperately need. Whether you book an appointment at our Birmingham clinic, you can expect the same excellent care and expertise for each team.

Our Clinics: Visit Us in and around Birmingham

Highfield Road, Edgbaston - Adult and Paediatric Care

Our contemporary clinic is located on the outskirts of Birmingham, not far from the city's botanical gardens. Come and visit our allergy specialists in Birmingham in the heart of Edgbaston, on the outskirts of the city centre. Edgbaston is easily accessible by well-serviced bus routes and the Five Ways train station, with regular connections to Birmingham Grand Central station.

The Harborne Hospital, Edgbaston - Adult Only Services

At the Harborne Hospital, we offer private GP-led hay fever diagnosis, treatment, and management. It’s easily accessible from Birmingham City Centre via the A38 or Junction 4 of the M5—simply enter the postcode into your sat nav and follow signs to HCA Car Park 1 on Wolfson Drive. Free parking is available, and from there, follow signs to the main reception. The hospital is located next door the The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Department.

For public transport users, the hospital is well-connected. Please allow extra time for early morning appointments, as traffic can be heavy before 09:00. For assistance, call reception at 0121 8123051.

Droitwich Spa Hospital, St Andrews Road, Droitwich - Adult Only Services

Our Droitwich Spa Clinic, located at The Droitwich Spa Hospital on St Andrews Road, offers private GP-led hay fever diagnosis, treatment, and management, alongside a range of other medical services. The clinic is easily accessible from Junction 5 of the M5 motorway and is well-served by public transport, with Droitwich Spa Station just an 11-minute walk away, or 3 minutes by taxi.

For drivers, free on-site parking is available—just remember to register your vehicle’s details at the reception. If parking is full, additional options include a nearby pay-and-display car park or free street parking (time restrictions may apply). The hospital provides a comfortable, state-of-the-art environment for all patients, and our expert GPs are available to assist with your hay fever needs. For assistance, please contact reception at 01905 763333.

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