Around 16 million Brits suffer from hay fever, and many are feeling the effects a lot earlier and more intensely than usual this year.
For a less stressful hay fever season, Dr Rupa Parmar, GP and Medical Director of Midland Health, shares her top tips for minimising your allergies, even when pollen bombs hit.
Dr Rupa Parmar said, “A pollen bomb happens as the weather quickly changes from cold to warm, which can trigger a massive release of pollen, an unwelcome surprise for the millions of Brits who suffer each year from hay fever. During a hay fever bomb, allergies can appear quite suddenly, and symptoms like sneezing, itchy and red eyes, headaches, and coughing will appear much earlier and seem much more severe than normal. It mostly affects those who suffer from tree pollen in early spring, but pollen bombs can also occur during summer with grass pollen.”
1. Check the Pollen Count
“The first thing you do each morning should be to check the day’s pollen count to understand when your symptoms are expected to be worse. It helps to organise your day, including when to stay indoors to avoid peak times and manage symptoms.”
2. Prioritise Prevention
“You should start daily hay fever treatments as early as possible because once your allergies kick in, it’s much harder to stop them. Consistently using antihistamines for 4 weeks or nasal sprays for 3 weeks before your symptoms would usually start can help block reactions to pollen before they occur. Generally, starting sooner will lead to less irritation for most sufferers, but for some, this method can prevent symptoms entirely.”
3. Manage Symptoms
“Use antihistamines every day during the hay fever season, not just on the days when the pollen is high. If you usually forget, set a daily reminder on your phone or stick a note somewhere you’ll see in the morning. Non-medicated treatments include applying petroleum jelly around your nostrils to trap pollen and protecting your eyes with wraparound sunglasses.”
4. Wash Your Clothes and Yourself
“Shower every night before bed to wash off any pollen that has stuck to your hair during the day and wash any clothes you’ve worn outside. This helps avoid rubbing it onto your pillow and bedding, which can cause an uncomfortable night’s sleep. Drying your clothes outside can also bring pollen inside, so even if the sun’s out, use an indoor clothes airer.”
5. Allergy-Proof Your Home
“It’s smart to keep your windows and doors closed when pollen counts are highest, to avoid welcoming pollen into your home. This is usually in the early morning and evening. Vacuuming and dusting your home more than usual can also help minimise the amount of pollen indoors, vital for keeping your home a safe space this allergy season. It’s also important to regularly check your home for mould, as, whether indoors or outdoors, mould spores can cause similar symptoms to hay fever, such as sneezing and itchy eyes.”
