Are you battling hay fever? Read this!

Aaachhooo!!

Uh oh! It must be hay fever season. 

For one in five New Zealanders, spring isn’t much fun. It means sneezing, a blocked nose, and itchy, watery eyes. The good news is that it can be managed with a few lifestyle changes and natural hay fever treatment. 

What is hay fever?

Hay fever is also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, which literally means “inflammation of the nose”. If you’ve ever had hay fever, you’ll know that your nasal passages feel irritated and sore, and your nose runs like a tap. 

Hay fever symptoms occur when your body reacts to substances called allergens that are in the air around you. Allergens typically include pollen, dust mites, mould, animal dander (from feathers or fur), and other irritants.

Symptoms of hay fever include:

• Itchy, runny nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Stuffy nose and sinuses (congestion)
• Excess mucus in the throat (also called postnasal drip)

Is it hay fever or a cold?

One of the most annoying things about hay fever is that many of the symptoms are similar to that of a cold or flu, such as a blocked nose and sinuses, a cough, and feeling exhausted. This makes it difficult to know if you have a virus or allergies!
However, a major telltale sign of hay fever is itchy eyes. This is a typical response to histamine, the chemical that your body releases when it detects an allergen (such as pollen). Also, hay fever tends to persist for around six weeks - while a cold usually only lasts around a week or so. 

Why is hay fever worse in spring?

One word: pollen! Most flowers, trees, and grasses pollinate in spring, which means there are lots of potential irritants floating about. In New Zealand, pollination in spring starts at the top of the North Island and gradually continues through the rest of the country over the following weeks. 

Interestingly, studies suggest that it’s the pollen from introduced plant species (i.e., non-native) that cause the most problems for hay fever sufferers. These typically include pine, wattle, alder, poplar, oak, ash, birch, and certain grasses.

Tips for preventing hay fever allergies

Spring shouldn’t be for suffering! Here are some ways to keep on top of your hay fever symptoms while enjoying those blue skies.  

• Wear sunglasses

Airborne pollen can cause allergic conjunctivitis, in which the membrane covering the whites of the eyes and the insides of the eyelids becomes irritated. Although unlikely to affect your eyesight, the reaction is not pleasant!  Many sufferers experience a persistent itching sensation and the need to rub their eyes. This is caused by the release of histamine which irritates the nerve endings. Your eyes may also become red and watery due to the swelling of blood vessels. 

Going out? Slap on a pair of sunnies. Sunglasses can help protect your eyes from all that pollen in the air.

 

• Stay in on bad days

If you’re prone to hay fever, you probably know that some days are worse than others. This is usually to do with the weather.

Warm, humid and windy days are usually the worst for hayfever as this is when pollen count is at its highest. Wet days aren’t much better because rain can “burst” pollen particles, increasing the concentration of pollen in the air. It’s usually best to stay in on these days!

Cloudy, cool days mean lower pollen count, and hopefully fewer symptoms.
Keep an eye on your local weather forecast for the air quality index, pollutants, pollen count, and pollution map. When in doubt, stay in!

• Grab some antihistamines

Antihistamines are designed to provide short-term relief from hay fever symptoms on those difficult days. They work by blocking the effects of histamine, the substance that your body releases when you encounter an allergen. Histamine causes your blood vessels to dilate, leading to those snuffly, sniffly, blocked-up symptoms.

Loraclear Hayfever Relief is a non-sedating antihistamine, which means you’re less likely to feel sleepy while taking it. These hay fever tablets are an easy, once-a-day dose that can help to relieve the discomfort of allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, and allergy-related skin rashes.
If your main symptoms are a blocked nose and congested sinuses, you might like to try Levrix tablets. Levrix is another type of antihistamine called Levocetirizine, which has a unique decongestant action that can help in managing allergy symptoms.

Just remember that while non-sedating antihistamines are less likely to cause drowsiness, this can still occur in some people. Talk to your healthcare practitioner about which antihistamines may be right for you.*

•  Try a saline spray

Nasal sprays are designed to help rinse out potential irritants such as pollen from the nasal passages. They can also help to clear the nose and sinuses at the end of the day before bedtime, which can support normal breathing during sleep.

FESS Saline Nasal Spray is a non-medicated nasal spray that supports nasal passages affected by sinusitis, hay fever, and colds. It contains eucalyptus and salt water to help keep the nasal passages moist and clear away allergens such as dust and pollen. It can also be used with medicated nasal sprays to reduce excess mucus.

 

• Keep your home allergy-proof 

Simple measures like keeping your windows closed in the early morning and early evening (when pollen count is highest) can help reduce your exposure to allergens. If you’re sensitive to dust mites, consider replacing carpets and rugs with tiles or wood.  Be sure to vacuum and dust your home regularly. 

Don’t let hay fever interfere with the brighter weather. Head to your local Bargain Chemist (or find us online!) and check out our huge range of products for hay fever, allergies, and sinus symptoms. And let’s start the countdown to summer! 

*Always read the label and use as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional.