Hayfever

Hay Fever- also known as allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction to pollen.

Pollen is a fine powder from plants. When pollen comes into contact with your mouth, nose , eyes and skin it can cause unpleasant effects known as symptoms. 

Symptoms of hayfever 

• Sneezing and coughing 
• Runny or blocked nose 
• Itchy, red and watery eyes 
• Loss of smell 
• Headache
•  Fatigue 

Hayfever is usually worse between March and September especially in warm, humid and windy weather. 

You can check the daily pollen levels on the Met Éireann website Here

Hayfever symptoms can be very similar to symptoms associated with Covid -19 so it’s important to familiarise yourself with the differences and if you are ever unsure, consult your pharmacist or GP.

Hay fever can last months and there is no cure so treatment and prevention can be very beneficial to ease symptoms when the pollen count is high. 

Home tips 

• Shower and change your clothes after being outside and exposed to pollen. 
• Vacuum regularly as pollen can come inside and settle on carpets and furniture 
• Keep windows and doors shut when possible. 
• Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen from entering your nasal cavity. 
• Dust with a damp cloth to prevent pollen being released into the air. 
•  Animals can carry pollen in their fur so when possible, keep animals at a distance and away from furniture. 
• Don’t cut grass or go on walks when pollen count is high 
• Don’t keep fresh flowers inside the house. 
• Dry clothes indoors as pollen can settle on them when they are drying outdoors 

Treatments 

Over the counter treatments are available when home remedies and preventions aren’t effective. 

• Antihistamines 

Antihistamines are a great first line treatment for hayfever. They are fast acting and will stop the reaction from occurring if taken before coming into contact with the allergen. Antihistamine tablets relieve all symptoms including runny or blocked nose & runny or itchy eyes. 
Cetrine is a small, non drowsy once a day tablet that lasts for 24 hours. Cetrine is also available as a liquid for children over 2 year old or adults with difficulty swallowing tablets. 

• Nasal sprays 

Nasal sprays can be extremely helpful to relieve symptoms of the nasal cavity. Steroid nasal sprays such as Nasacort, Flixonase and Beconase work by reducing inflammation in the nasal passage. 

They are most effective when they are used for a few weeks before hayfever season starts. 

Nasal rinses and saline sprays are 100% natural and safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They are a great way of rinsing the pollen from the nasal passage and hence relieve symptoms. 

• Eye drops 

Antihistamine eye drops give a quick relief for people suffering from watery or itchy eyes. 

Opticrom is suitable for adults and children and can be administered four times a day. Unfortunately Opticrom is not suitable in pregnancy but a great alternative is Optrex Eyewash. 

Optex eyewash can be used to rinse the eye, removing pollen from the eye. 

What treatment is best for me? 

We are always here to advise you on what treatments would be most suited to your needs and your symptoms. 

Call in store today or send us an email on info@alwaystherepharmacy.ie