How to get ahead of your hay fever

Runny nose? Itchy throat? Can’t stop sneezing? These symptoms could apply equally well to the common cold or to hay fever. But how do you know which one you’ve got?

If you notice your symptoms recurring at certain times of the year and lasting for weeks on end, it’s likely you’re experiencing hay fever. The good news is that a simple blood test can help you to know for certain, so why not book in for one today?

What is hay fever?

Hay fever - also known as allergic rhinitis or seasonal allergies - is an allergic reaction to substances that appear during specific times of the year. The most notorious seasonal allergen is pollen, which comes from blooming plants.

Whilst pollen is actually harmless, your body might identify it as a threat and trigger an immune response. This response produces the symptoms that we identify as hay fever. In the UK, you’re likely to experience the most severe hay fever symptoms during Spring and Summer, as this is when the pollen count is highest.

Hay fever symptoms

The most common signs of hay fever include:

• A runny, stuffy nose

• Sneezing

• Coughing

• Watery, red eyes

• Itchy eyes, nose, and/or mouth

• Mucus in the back of your throat

Many of these seasonal allergy symptoms overlap with the symptoms of the common cold. The key difference is that a cold generally lasts 7-10 days, whereas hay fever symptoms last for as long as you’re exposed to the allergens.

How to treat hay fever

There’s no cure for hay fever, but there are some effective strategies you can use to limit your symptoms:

• Avoid contact with allergens. Keep an eye on the pollen forecast, and take extra precautions on days when the pollen count is high. This might mean reducing your time outside, closing doors and windows, and changing clothes when you come in at the end of the day.

• Cleanse your sinuses. Sterimar nasal spray or a sinus rinse flushes out allergens from your nose. Sinus rinses are easy and inexpensive to perform at home, but to avoid a sinus infection you must ensure that you use a sterile solution. The best way to do this is to purchase a ready-made kit from your local pharmacy.

• Take hay fever tablets and/or topical therapies. You’ll find plenty of seasonal allergy treatments in your local pharmacy. Antihistamines relieve sneezing, watery eyes, and itching. Decongestants relieve a blocked nose. Your pharmacist can advise you on the most effective medicine.

• Kenalog (Triamcinolone) injections. Most people can manage their hay fever symptoms through a combination of non-intrusive measures, antihistamine tablets and/or topical therapies. Approximately 10% of people find their symptoms are not sufficiently controlled despite maximal oral and topical therapies. If you fall into this category, you could opt to have steroid injections called Kenalog (Triamcinolone). The injection is delivered into a large muscle and slowly releases the steroids over a period of 3-8 weeks. Many people who have the injection describe significant improvements. Book a consultation with your GP if you’re considering trying injections for your hay fever.

Manage your seasonal allergies with a blood test

Hay fever reactions can be caused by a range of different allergens, including:

• Pollen

• Dust mites

• Spores from mould

• Dander from pets

A simple blood test helps you to pin down precisely what’s causing your allergic reaction, without the discomfort of a skin prick test. It also means your GP will be able to identify effective treatments for your symptoms much more quickly.

Book your allergy profile today, and reclaim your summer from blocked noses and itchy eyes.