A runny nostril, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing – no matter your hay fever signs, it’s no shock if you happen to’ve had a flare-up just lately.
During spring, each tree and grass pollen is launched into the air.
If you’re allergic to the proteins they comprise, your nostril, eyes, throat and sinuses can grow to be swollen, irritated and infected.
“Many people are suffering from hay fever just now because the pollen count is high, thanks in part to climate change,” says Dr Nisa Aslam, GP from Typharm’s Skin Life Sciences Foundation. “Plus the pollen season is getting longer.”
The immune perform performs an vital position in an allergic reactions, she explains. “People who suffer from hay fever often have a family history of not just hay fever, but also skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, which can often be borne out of problems with the immune system.”
The climate will also be a contributing think about how badly you’re affected.
“Some hay fever sufferers may be experiencing a sudden spike in their symptoms a bit earlier than usual, this may be due to the recent prolonged wet and windy weather,” says Claire Nevinson, superintendent pharmacist at Boots.
“On a daily basis, rainfall tends to decrease pollen, but over a period of months, intermittent wet days tend to produce a more severe hay fever season overall.”
Conditions may very well be about to get even worse. A latest research by the University of Worcester, printed within the Science of The Total Environment journal, warned that it may very well be one of many worst seasons for birch pollen on document.
The severity is because of two issues. “Firstly, higher than average temperatures last June, when the pollen is produced, allowed greater potential for high pollen levels,” says Dr Beverley Adams-Groom, senior pollen forecaster on the college.
“Secondly, birch trees have a biennial pattern of pollen production, one mild year and one severe year, and this year was already expected to be a high year.”
So what are you able to do in case your hay fever is way worse than common in the intervening time?
The first step is to keep away from publicity to the pollen that impacts you essentially the most.
“Allergens responsible for hay fever include grass pollens and tree pollens [spring and summer], weed pollens and fungal mould spores,” says Dr Aslam.
“Watch the daily pollen forecasts. Don’t go outside when the pollen count is high and keep all windows shut.”
Preventive medicines may help to scale back signs if upfront whenever you’re going to be uncovered to pollen.
“This can be a steroid nasal spray one to two weeks before symptoms start,” says Dr Aslam.
Alternatively, pure nasal sprays “can help to prevent the symptoms of hayfever and other types of allergic rhinitis by forming a protective film in our inner nose, stopping allergens that we breathe in from trying to enter our respiratory system”, she says.
Similarly, ointments like Vaseline can act as a pollen lure.
“Apply a barrier balm of petroleum jelly around your nose to trap the pollen and help relieve dry and uncomfortable skin from repetitive nose blowing,” Ms Nevinson says.
“Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off and wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes.”
