Hay Fever
Hay fever is usually worse between late March and September, especially when it's warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest.
Symptoms of hay fever include:
- sneezing and coughing
- a runny or blocked nose
- itchy, red or watery eyes
- itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- loss of smell
- pain around your temples and forehead
- headache
- earache
- feeling tired
If you have asthma, you might also:
- have a tight feeling in your chest
- be short of breath
- wheeze and cough
If you have any hay fever symptoms, please do try over-the-counter medications before contacting your GP. Your local pharmacy can also help.
How to treat hay fever yourself
There's currently no cure for hay fever and you cannot prevent it - But you can do things to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high:
Do
- put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
- wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes
- shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off
- stay indoors whenever possible
- keep windows and doors shut as much as possible
- vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
- buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter
- try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your usual activities
Don't
- cut grass or walk on grass
- spend too much time outside
- keep fresh flowers in the house
- smoke, or be around smoke - it will make your symptoms worse
- dry clothes outside - they can catch pollen
- let pets into the house if possible - they can carry pollen indoors