Pharmacist reveals how to minimise hayfever triggers

With the Met Office forecasting pollen counts will be high in several UK areas over the bank holiday weekend, Ashcroft Pharmacy shares expert tips on how to ease hayfever symptoms and minimise outdoor triggers.

Hayfever, also known as allergic rhinitis, occurs when the immune system overreacts to substances in the air. It impacts one in four UK adults.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis is often triggered by outdoor allergens, such as tree pollen in spring, grass pollen in summer and weed pollen in autumn. It typically peaks between late March and September, when the pollen count is highest.

According to the Met Office pollen forecast, East Midlands, West Midlands, the East of England, and London & South East England are expected to have high pollen counts on 3 April, with the latter two reaching ‘very high’ pollen counts by Easter Sunday.

While most will want to spend time outdoors over the long bank holiday weekend, it’s important to take precautions to minimise the impact. The following measures can help minimise exposure to outdoor allergens:

• Use a barrier cream on your nose
• Wear wraparound shades
• Change clothes and shower after being outside
• Use recirculating air conditioning in the car
• Keep the windows and doors closed at home as much as possible
• Avoid cutting grass
• Drying clothes inside instead of outside
• Driving with windows closed
  

Common hayfever symptoms of hayfever include coughing, sneezing, a congested or runny nose, and irritated eyes. Several over-the-counter (OTC) treatments can help manage and alleviate hayfever symptoms, including antihistamines, which are available in a variety of forms, including oral tablets, syrups, topically administered creams and eye drops.

It’s worth noting that antihistamines can disrupt sleep cycles, which can cause drowsiness. Consider taking this medication at night rather than in the day, and avoid driving or operating machinery if drowsiness occurs. Non-drowsy antihistamines such as Fexofenadine tablets are less likely to have this effect, but it’s still possible.

Decongestants are also recommended to relieve nasal congestion by decreasing the oedema in the nasal lining. You can also use saline sprays or nasal rinses, including Nasonex, to help minimise sneezing, congestion and runny noses.

Suhail Jamil, Superintendent Pharmacist at Ashcroft Pharmacy, said: “While it’s a common condition, hayfever can be debilitating, with symptoms disrupting the daily quality of life for many, especially for those who experience it for months at a time or year-round. The good news is that there are various ways to help manage the symptoms, whether that’s through medication or lifestyle changes. However, people commonly put off or avoid trying these methods that can help, choosing to instead suffer in silence.

Contact a GP if your hayfever symptoms don’t go away with treatment or worsen. Trouble breathing, severe congestion, or signs of allergic asthma, like wheezing and tightness in your chest, might mean you need prescription medications or immunotherapy.