Hay fever season: how to cope with sneezes and itchy eyes this summer

A woman with hay fever wiping her eyes

Credit: Getty

Strong Women


Hay fever season: how to cope with sneezes and itchy eyes this summer

By Anna Bartter

9 months ago

4 min read

As pollen levels rise and allergy season gets into full swing, here’s how to cope with hay fever symptoms over the coming weeks and months.


It’s officially summer – despite the weather being all over the place at the moment – that means allergy season is upon us. 

According to the latest statistics, there’s been an increase in people reporting allergy symptoms in the last few years, and with up to 49% of the UK population prone to hay fever symptoms, spring can bring about mixed feelings. 

It’s certainly no fun to suffer from allergies, and while allergies aren’t just limited to hay fever, it’s common at this time of year for many of us to start feeling the familiar itchy, watery eyes and runny nose – and it can make spring and summer downright miserable for some. So, if you are dreading the arrival of blossom and lawnmowers, here’s how to navigate the coming weeks and months. 


Why do some of us have hay fever?

“Hay fever is also known in the medical world as ‘allergic rhinitis’,” explains Dr Zoe Watson, a GP and founder of wellbeing platform Wellgood Wellbeing. “This essentially means the nasal passages become inflamed due to an allergen, which in the case of hay fever, is pollen.”

This inflammation causes symptoms that are very similar to a cold and can range from mildly irritating to debilitating. You might have a runny nose, congestion, sneezing and sinus pressure, as well as itchy eyes and nose. If you also suffer from asthma, you may find your wheezing worsens.

But why do some of us suffer while others can breeze through summer without so much as a sniffle?

“Hay fever is one of a group of conditions in medicine which are called atopic diseases,” explains Dr Watson. “These diseases are caused by the body creating an exaggerated immune response to foreign substances. They include things such as asthma, eczema, food allergies, atopic dermatitis and anaphylaxis among others.”

1. It’s genetic

“Atopic diseases are generally genetically determined,” says Dr Watson, “so if your family members have a genetic predisposition to atopic conditions, it’s likely you will too.”

2. Some allergies co-occur

In bad news for people who have eczema and asthma, conditions such as hay fever often co-occur – meaning someone who gets eczema also has a higher chance of developing hay fever and asthma, says Dr Watson. 

What causes hay fever symptoms?

woman sitting in a park with cherry blossom

Credit: Getty

 Hay fever symptoms occur when our immune response to the allergen is triggered.

“When you’re exposed to certain allergens – grass pollen, for example – your body will develop ‘allergic sensitisation’ to this substance, and you’ll develop a bunch of antibodies against it,” explains Dr Watson.

“These antibodies then attach to what’s known as ‘mast cells’ within the body. Mast cells contain histamine, and when you are exposed to the allergen again, the antibodies you’ve built up bind to the grass pollen cells, triggering the mast cell to release all of its histamine – which then results in you feeling itchy, sneezy and wheezy whenever you come into contact with grass pollen.”

How to treat hay fever symptoms

According to the charity Allergy UK, grass pollen is the most common allergen and typically occurs between May and July, but tree pollen season runs from February to June. Weed pollen can also cause symptoms from June to September.

Whichever allergen triggers you, the treatment options are the same, and Dr Watson advises prevention rather than cure.

1. Medications

“Hay fever can be tricky to treat,” she advises. “The best thing to do is start taking a good antihistamine early in the season and continue taking it throughout summer and autumn to try to minimise the effects of the histamine. Antihistamines work by blocking the histamine receptors in your body, therefore reducing the symptoms of hay fever.”

There is a range of antihistamines readily available, but if you’re concerned about your symptoms, always seek medical advice. 

2. Nasal sprays and eye drops

Steroid nasal sprays can help with nasal congestion and they often get to work faster than pills, so are handy for instant relief. But it’s important to follow the usage advice carefully, since using a nasal spray incorrectly can reduce its efficacy.

You can also try antihistamine eye drops like sodium cromoglycate to help ease watery, itchy eye symptoms. 

How to relieve hay fever symptoms

A woman washing her face

Credit: Getty

“Inevitably, none of the medical treatment methods are perfect,” warns Dr Watson. “But there are certainly a few things you can do to minimise your symptoms when the pollen count is high.”

Try

  • Staying indoors as much as possible and keep windows and doors shut
  • Avoiding cutting grass, large grassy places and camping
  • Showering and washing your hair and body after being outdoors, especially after going to the countryside
  • Wearing wraparound sunglasses when you are out, as normal sunglasses will still let pollen in
  • Keeping car windows closed and consider buying a pollen filter for the air vents in your car

Avoid

  • Spending too much time outside
  • Keeping fresh flowers in your house
  • Smoking or exposing yourself to smoke
  • Letting pets in the house as they can track pollen inside
  • Washing or drying clothes outside

Images: Getty

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