Allergy Care - Hay Fever

Hay fever affects tens of thousands of people. It is caused by a reaction to pollen and sometimes mould spores.

Hay fever, eczema, asthma and allergies are all linked and these tend to run in families. Therefore it is not uncommon for individuals to suffer with one or more of these. By way of example, my daughter, Alice, suffers with eczema, asthma and allergies, and her father suffers with asthma and severe hay fever!

The symptoms of hay fever will vary from person to person and in severity too. Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, red and itchy eyes and wheezing.

Trees, plants, grass and flowers all pollinate at different times and therefore the time of year and length of time people suffer depends on which pollens they are sensitive to.

There are a variety of treatments available including oral preparations, nose sprays and eye drops.

Grass and Tree Pollen Avoidance

It is impossible to avoid pollen completely but there are some things you can do to reduce your exposure to grass and tree pollen.

1. Avoid being outside early in the morning or in the evening as the pollen count is higher during
    these times of the day.

2. Sleep with your bedroom window closed.

3. In the car, drive with the windows shut. Some cars now have pollen filters within their
    ventilaton systems.

4. Wear sun glasses to protect your eyes. Wrap around types are best.

5. Don't mow the lawn - get someone else to do this for you.

6. Take holidays in coastal areas where pollen counts can be lower due to sea breezes.

7. Don't dry washing outside as pollen can then be brought into the house on clothes and
    bedding. Instead, dry clothes inside or use a tumble dryer.

8. Spread Vaseline around your eyes and nose - this can help to catch the pollen spores so you
    don't breathe them in or so they don't get in your eyes.

9. Make a note of the daily pollen forecast so that you are prepared.