How to Deal with Hay Fever Symptoms

hay fever! Hay fever season means months of itchy eyes, constant sneezing, dry cough, and, of course, the tell-tale runny nose.

With hay fever symptoms that wreak havoc on our sinuses, it can really put a damper on your summer. It’s well worth it to get on top of seasonal allergies such as hay fever as early as possible.

Here is your handy guide on how to deal with hay fever symptoms this season. 

So, what is hay fever?

Hay fever is a common condition that affects close to 19 million people in the UK. This condition is known as nasal allergies or allergic rhinitis which refers to inflammation or irritation in the sinuses. Hay fever can be occupational, seasonal, or perennial (yearlong).

Common symptoms include:

  • Runny nose
  • Nasal congestion
  • Sneezing
  • Red, itchy, or watery eyes
  • Coughing

What causes hay fever?

Hay fever symptoms usually start right after you’ve been exposed to an allergen that triggers your specific allergies. Allergens can be found both outdoors and indoors.

Allergens that cause hay fever may include:

  • Pollen
  • Fungi or mould
  • Dander or pet fur
  • Dust mites

Other irritants include:

  • Pollution
  • Perfume
  • Cigarette smoke

These allergens trigger your immune system, which mistakenly identifies the substance as being harmful to your body. As a result, your immune system quickly produces antibodies to defend your body. When antibodies get triggered, they signal your body to release inflammatory histamine chemicals and your blood vessels to widen. This is what causes hay fever symptoms.

HOW TO TREAT OR MANAGE HAY FEVER SYMPTOMS

Over-the-counter medicine

Luckily, hay fever isn’t too difficult to manage with over-the-counter hay fever medicine. You may even be able to prevent hay fever symptoms from developing if you take antihistamine medication before seasonal pollen is in the air.

However, if you’re already experiencing the symptoms of hay fever, you’ve most likely missed the prevention stage.

When hay fever season is upon you, here are the best OTC allergy medicines to deal with hay fever symptoms.

You can try:

  • Antihistamines: Claritin, Altavert, Zyrtec, and Allegra
  • Decongestants: Sudafed tablets and Afrin nose spray
  • Eye drops
  • Allergy shots (doctor prescribed)

Lifestyle and home remedies

It's nearly impossible to avoid allergens completely, but one thing you can do to reduce your symptoms is simply limit your exposure to these substances as best you can. If you’ve been able to identify what you're allergic to, you can do your part to avoid your triggers. There are also home remedies to soothe and treat symptoms that might be bothering you.

Consider some of these tips:

  • Wear a mask
  • Use saline nasal rinse to flush out irritants in your sinuses
  • Use an air purifier machine to filter out allergens such as pollen, dust mites, etc
  • Use a cold compress on your itchy eyes for fast relief

Alternative medicine

While there isn't much evidence about the effectiveness of alternative medicine or natural treatments, many people try them for relief of hay fever symptoms.

Examples include:

Essential Oils

  • Eucalyptus aromatherapy oil is wonderful for all things to do with breathing and lungs.
  • Rosemary oil has mucolytic properties that help to alleviate congestion.
  • Lavender oil is a natural antihistamine this is soothing and can relax breathing and reduce irritation.

Acupuncture

Some people find that acupuncture treatments help to relieve some allergy symptoms even though there is no hardcore evidence that it works. Acupuncture can provide different benefits to each person.

Visit Online4Pharmacy for the best choice of allergy medicine and the cheapest hay fever tablets in the UK. We have all your healthcare needs all in one place!