‘I’m a doctor – here are 7 simple ways to beat hay fever’

As we approach the summer, millions of people across the country will be starting to experience the symptoms of hay fever, a condition with an estimated 16 million sufferers in the UK. For many people the symptoms of hay fever can be mild and don’t have much impact on their health or their quality of life. But for some people, the symptoms are severe and can be debilitating enough to prevent them from enjoying the summer in the way in which people without hay fever can do.

Because of climate change — which is leading to warmer temperatures during the spring, summer and autumn — the hay fever season is starting earlier in the UK and continuing later in the year than in the past. For many sufferers, what might have been a few weeks of misery can now stretch into months. We have also seen an increase in the number of people with hay fever in the UK in recent decades. This combination of a longer hay fever season and more people suffering from the condition makes hay fever a serious problem for the NHS as well as for individuals.

What is hay fever?

The symptoms of hay fever — or, to give it its medical name, seasonal allergic rhinitis — occur when the body’s immune system reacts to pollen. For most people, pollen is harmless and exposure to it has little effect on them.

But for people with hay fever, when pollen from trees, grass or other plants enters their nose, eyes or throat, their body mistakes it for a threat and releases chemicals such as histamine that trigger the symptoms of hay fever. These symptoms can include:

• Frequent sneezing and coughing
• Runny or blocked nose
• Itchy, red or watery eyes
• Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
• Loss of smell
• Feeling tired and run down

The symptoms of hay fever usually peak between late March and September when pollen counts are highest and on warm, windy days which result in more pollen entering the air.

For most people with hay fever, these symptoms are an annoying but temporary inconvenience. But they are far more serious for some. If you have asthma, for example, hay fever can trigger or worsen attacks, making breathing difficult and potentially requiring hospital treatment in the most severe cases.

Is hay fever really getting worse?

Yes, hay fever is getting worse. The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Report recently confirmed that pollen seasons are getting longer. Climate change has made the flowering periods of trees start one to two weeks earlier than in the 1990s.

Warmer temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels are also helping plants produce more pollen and release it for longer. Research published in another journal, The Lancet Public Health, found these changes are leading to increases in the number of people with severe symptoms of hay fever.

What treatments are available?

The good news is that there is a range of treatments available for hay fever, many of which can be bought from pharmacies and supermarkets without needing to see a doctor or getting a prescription. These treatments include:

• Antihistamines: These are available as tablets, liquids, nasal sprays or eye drops. They aim to block the effects of histamine, one of the main causes of hay fever symptoms. Older antihistamines such as Piriton (Chlorphenamine) could cause drowsiness and are not recommended for people who have to drive or use machinery. But there are now newer antihistamines that don’t cause drowsiness such as cetirizine or loratadine. For many people, they are very effective in tackling the symptoms of hay fever.
• Steroid nasal sprays (like fluticasone or mometasone): These reduce inflammation in the nose and are often the most effective treatment for nasal congestion. For best results, they should be started a week or two before your usual hay fever season.
• Eye drops for itchy, watery eyes and saline nasal rinses or sprays to flush out pollen.

What else can help?

There are also some other steps you can take to help reduce your pollen exposure and symptoms:

• Shower and change clothes as soon as you come indoors – pollen sticks to hair, skin and fabric.
• Keep windows and doors closed on high-pollen days, especially in the morning and evening.
• Put a smear of petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) around your nostrils to trap pollen before it gets inside.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat outdoors.
• Avoid drying washing outside and keep fresh flowers out of the house.
• Check the Met Office pollen forecast daily and stay indoors when counts are high if you are at risk of severe symptoms.
• Consider using pollen filters in your car’s air vents.

For people with more severe symptoms that don’t respond well to over-the-counter remedies and other actions you may have tried, your GP may be able to prescribe higher doses of medication or refer you to a specialist allergy clinic for treatments that are not available from GP surgeries.

Where should you turn for help?

Your local pharmacy is the best first stop for most people. Pharmacists are experts in hay fever and can recommend the right combination of treatments without needing a GP appointment. They’ll also advise on the cheapest and most effective options.

You should consider seeing your GP if:

• Symptoms are severe or not improving after two weeks of over-the-counter treatment
• Your hay fever is making your asthma worse (wheezing, tight chest, shortness of breath)
• You need prescription-only medicines or referral to a specialist clinic
• Symptoms are affecting your sleep, work or daily life

If you have hay fever, don’t suffer in silence. Seek help and advice from a pharmacist or your GP. Hay fever may be getting more common and lasting for longer during the year but with the right mix of prevention and treatment, most people can get their symptoms under control well enough to enjoy the warmer weather.