When it comes to this time of year, many of us are savouring as much sunshine as possible and venturing out in our gardens, local parks and the like as the colder and wetter weather starts to ease up. Being Brits, we know that at any moment the sun could disappear and rain clouds can form - but that's not the only cloud hovering over us this season.
Many of us down here in the South West suffer from hay fever - and it can get so bad that we resort to avoiding going out as much as we can. It can put a real dampener on special occasions and events.
So, with wedding season in our midst - as well as the King's Coronation just weeks away (at time of writing) - the summer sunshine over the horizon and a whole heap of Bank Holidays we need to fill with activities, the last thing we all need is to be struck down by hay fever. Fortunately, while there's no definitive cure for hay fever, there are a few things you can do at home to ease your symptoms...
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What you can do to ease your symptoms when pollen counts are high
These eight simple tips could help ease your hay fever symptoms during high pollen seasons:
- Putting Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
- Wearing wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes
- Showering and changing your clothes after you have been outside, in order to wash the pollen away
- Staying indoors whenever possible
- Keeping windows and doors shut as much as possible
- Vacuuming regularly and dusting with a damp cloth
- Buying a pollen filter for air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter
- Trying to stay home and avoid contact with others if you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do your normal activities
Symptoms of hay fever
According to official information from the NHS, hay fever is usually worse between late March and September, especially when it is warm, humid and windy - this is when the pollen count is at its highest.
To check if you have hay fever, look out for the following symptoms:
- Coughing and sneezing
- A runny or blocked nose
- Itchy, red or watery eyes
- Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- Loss of smell
- Pain around your temples and forehead
- Headache
- Earache
- Feeling tired
If you have asthma, you may also have a tight feeling in your chest, be short of breath, and/or wheeze and cough. Hay fever will also last for weeks/months, rather than a week or two, which is the time frame for a cold.
What you shouldn't do when pollen counts are high
When pollen counts are high, you should not:
- Cut grass or walk on grass
- Spend too much time outside
- Keep fresh flowers in the house
- Smoke or be around smoke, as it makes your symptoms worse
- Dry clothes outside as they can catch pollen
- Let pets in and out of the home as they can carry pollen indoors (washing them if they've been outside can help)
You can find out more about specific types of pollen allergies and other hay fever advice at Allergy UK. If you have a hay fever home remedy, or handy tip that you've tried and tested, let us know in the comments below...
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