Many of us are preparing to meet the nemesis of Spring – itchy eyes, sneezes, wheezes and more. Here’s how to fight back against hay fever and all the other nasties invading our air space
More than one in three of the population will be affected by some form of allergy during their lives. Some surveys suggest that it could even be as high as 44 per cent of British adults who suffer from some form of invisible hell and the figure soars to more than 50 per cent among children.
Of all allergies, hay fever is one of the most common, affecting around a quarter of us – so when the sun comes out and the temperatures rise so does the misery for a significant chunk of the population.
‘TIS THE SEASON TO SUFFER
A stuffy nose, itching and red eyes, uncontrollable sneezing fits, painful sinuses and a scratchy, sore throat are all too familiar for many. Two main types of pollen affect hay fever sufferers in the UK – grass pollen and tree pollen. According to the NHS, about 95 per cent of sufferers are allergic to grass and around 25 per cent to tree pollen – which means some are allergic to both.
The Met Office official pollen count monitoring service runs from late March when tree pollen starts, through the grass pollen season in mid-May and finishing at the end of September when the weed pollen ends. In reality, the pollen season can start much earlier!
FIGHT BACK
There are actions that can be taken to mitigate the symptoms. You should always check with your GP first, but here are a few top tips that might just help navigate hay fever season:
• Get used to checking the pollen count on a daily basis so that you can plan your day.
• Always dry clothes indoors rather than on a clothesline to prevent pollen particles being blown onto them.
• Plan outdoor activities after any rain as the pollen count will be lower. When you are outside, put petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) around your nostrils to trap pollen.
• Try tying your hair up and wearing a cap or hat when outside to prevent pollen particles getting caught in your scalp, as well as using wrap-around sunglasses to prevent them coming into contact with your eyes.
• When you come home change out of your outdoor clothes to prevent spreading pollen around the house. Wash your face as soon as you get indoors on high pollen count days to remove allergens so that they can’t cause a reaction.
• Spring clean the house before spring so you are not sneezing and suffering while disturbing dust. Vacuuming the house regularly, especially beds and fabrics helps to remove pollen particles and allergens.
• Shower at night before sleeping to remove pollen particles from your hair and body. Remember to clean mould in the bathroom regularly to avoid the spread of mould spores.
• Ensure you have good ventilation in the bathroom and kitchen to remove excess moisture to avoid damp. Lower damp levels mean less mould spores and dust mites. If necessary, buy a dehumidifier to reduce moisture levels.
• Make your bedroom an allergy-free haven where you can rest and get a good night’s sleep. Close windows or use an air-conditioner preferably with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) filter to capture the pollen and circulate the air.