Managing Hay-Fever This Spring

For many, the trees beginning to blossom and the weather getting warmer signals lovely light evenings, beer gardens and picnics in the park. But for some, it’s the start of something that can be a living nightmare as the symptoms of hay fever set in.

Hay fever affects one in four Britons, according to research, but because it isn’t life threatening, not all of us take it seriously.

It’s easy to trivialize hay fever. For some, symptoms are mild, but as many as half of sufferers have symptoms that are persistent and affect both the quality and functioning of their life.

It can stop people doing things that they enjoy, it can affect their work and concentration, and their quality of sleep. These things can really be utterly miserable for patients, and it can go on for months.

The good news is that hay fever treatments have “significantly improved” over the last few decades and there’s more help and support out there nowadays. The most important thing is to be informed – so here’s everything you need to know.

What causes hay fever?

Most people are aware of hay fever, medically referred to as seasonal allergic rhinitis, but what causes it, exactly?

“Hay fever is an allergy to pollen – most commonly either tree, grass or weed pollen, and which one will dictate when you get symptoms,” says Professor of Paediatric Allergy, Adam Fox.

If you’re allergic to tree pollen, you’ll typically experience symptoms between March and May, while grass pollen tends to be at its worst between May and July and weed pollen triggers allergies between June and September.

“If you are allergic, breathing in the pollen causes an allergic reaction, and your nasal lining, where the pollen is ‘seen’, releases a chemical called histamine which causes the symptoms

The best hay fever treatments

Over the last few centuries, hay fever has been treated with everything from opium to cocaine, and until recently the antihistamine medication was all rather sedative – meaning taking it left patients feeling drowsy.

“The treatment now is undoubtedly better than it was several decades ago,” says Professor Till, who outlines the four main treatment options as:

Non-drowsy antihistamines, such as Cetirizine (brand name Piriteze) and Loratadine (Claratin), which are available in tablets, sprays and syrups.

Steroid nasal sprays. These are anti-inflammatory medicines which can be prescribed by your GP or bought over the counter at a pharmacy.

Hay fever relief eyedrops. Anti-allergic eyedrops containing sodium cromoglycate can be very effective at targeting hay fever symptoms which affect your eyes.

Immunotherapy. Certain patients can be referred by their GP for immunotherapy, where small amounts of pollen are regularly given as an injection or tablet in order to slowly build up tolerance to the allergens.

How else can you manage hay fever?

The NHS recommends showering and changing your clothes after you have been outside in order to wash pollen off, avoiding smoking or being around smoke as it can exacerbate symptoms, keeping windows and doors shut as much as possible, and vacuuming regularly using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

Meanwhile, a common mistake patients make is not taking treatments on a regular basis.

It shouldn’t be ad hoc – they need to start early and take them daily, even on days when they feel well, throughout the season. That way you should be able to enjoy the warmer months without suffering.