The best remedies to beat hay fever as pollen count soars to highest level
JULY is proving to be one long month of hay fever hell.
And this week, in particular, has seen the Met Office issue warnings for "very high" pollen counts across the UK every day.
One in five of us suffers from hay fever - so that's a whole load of Brits who can expect to be sneezing today.
This year's mega hay fever season is partly to do with the fact that we had a pretty miserable start to June - followed by warm, dry days.
In 2018, we had the most severe pollen season for over a decade and again, the weather was to blame.
A cold, wet March delayed spring but when spring finally sprang, there was a pollen explosion - made worse by the heatwave.
But if you feel like you're more Piriton than human right now, there are a few things you can do to relieve your symptoms:
1. Cut down on the booze
Beer, wine and other spirits all contain histamine - the chemical that sets off allergy symptoms in the body.
Sick of fighting against runny eyes? The Met Office recommends sticking to the soft stuff where possible to avoid adding any unnecessary allergy pressure.
2. Wash your nose out with salt water
Hay fever expert Dr Mike Dilkes old Healthista that a saltwater washout "can easily remove dust and other irritants trapped in the nose".
To do a saltwater washout:
- Dissolve half a teaspoon of table salt into one cup of boiled water
- Let the water cool to room temperature
- Then use the palm of your hand as a bowl to hold the water
- Close one of your nostrils with your finger
- Bring the open nostril to your palm and sniff up some of the water and then blow it out after a few seconds
- Repeat for both sides
3. Use a damp cloth to wipe down dust
Dust can trigger hay fever so you need to make sure your home is as dust-free as possible.
Clean dust off surfaces with a damp cloth so it is absorbed instead of being spread around into the air.
Try to avoid dust dropping into any carpet as it can become trapped, and avoid feather duvets and feather pillows as dust gets easily trapped in these materials too.
When you get out of bed in the morning, throw a dust cover over your bed to avoid particles getting stuck.
4. Dry clothes indoors
Although the sun and fresh air make for the perfect drying solution for freshly-washed clothes, it's a nightmare combo for hay fever sufferers.
Pollen will cling to your clean washing and cause symptoms to flare when you next pop those clothes on.
Experts recommend avoiding this especially when pollen counts are high, so be sure to check the forecast.
Otherwise, try to dry your clothes indoors where possible.
5. Take your meds at the right time
It may seem obvious for anyone that an antihistamine will help, but it's actually knowing when to take them that could make the difference.
For most hay fever sufferers, symptoms are worse around midday when pollen levels peak.
So taking the one-a-day anti-allergy tablets first thing in the morning will give you better protection.
But if you are someone who finds they make you drowsy then take it before bed.
Dr Sarah Jarvis told The Sun: "Part of the problem with hay fever is it depends on when your symptoms start, pollen counts tend to be higher during the day.
"So we normally say if you are going to go out, go out early in the morning or late in the evening as pollen counts tend to be lower then."
Look for products containing Cetirizine or Loratadine - both of these work to combat allergies without making you feel tired.
Try taking one , with a glass of water every day.
6. Try sodium cromoglycate supplements
Finding that your nasal sprays and drops aren't that effective?
Dr Dilkes recommends looking out for products containing sodium cromoglycate.
That's a chemical that stabilises cells - stopping them from creating histamine which is what causes your runny nose.
By cutting of histamine production, you're relieving the nasal symptoms.
7. Know your pollen type
Remember, warm sunshine with a little breeze is the ideal weather for pollen bombs.
Pollen peaks during the morning after its release.
Knowing which type of pollen you're allergic to will help you to do deal with the fallout.
Of the 18 million Brits allergic to pollen, 95 per cent struggle with grass pollen while just 20 per cent is sensitive to tree pollen.
MORE ON HAY FEVER
Research at five UK universities is currently going on to identify the most significant of the 150 different species of grass pollen in the UK.
The hope is that eventually, health bosses will be able to change our local environments to reduce the impact of allergies.
So that could mean replacing certain grass species in sports fields and parks with a less viscous one.
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