Hay fever, or pollen allergy, is an allergic reaction to plant pollen. This condition is accompanied by nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and itching in the nose, mouth, and ears.
Claire Nevinson, the chief pharmacist at the British pharmacy chain Boots, knows how to combat hay fever. She believes that the best way to protect yourself from hay fever attacks is to avoid pollen whenever possible. However, if that’s not feasible, consider these eight tips to help manage the annoying symptoms of pollen allergy.
Stay Informed About Pollen Levels
Not everyone may know this, but meteorologists regularly provide forecasts regarding pollen levels in the air. These levels can be low, moderate, or high. This information can be useful for planning your days ahead. It’s clear that when pollen counts are high, allergic reactions tend to worsen.
Keep Your Windows Closed
During warm weather, open windows are a necessity. After all, how else can you ventilate your space? However, the wind can carry pollen inside through open windows, which can exacerbate hay fever symptoms.
According to Claire Nevinson, to minimize pollen entering your home or car, make sure all windows are closed.
Know When Pollen Levels Are Highest
Common belief suggests that pollen levels peak during the hot daytime hours. However, this isn’t always the case. In fact, pollen winds can occur even in the evening, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Hay fever can strike if a large amount of pollen combines with moisture and then the sun comes out. In such cases, especially in polluted areas, real “pollen bombs” can form. Ms. Nevinson recommends going outside during the times of day when temperatures are at their lowest.
Remember That You Can Carry Pollen
Pollen easily clings to clothing and hair. So, if you enter your home wearing the same jacket you had on all day, pollen can spread throughout your living space. Therefore, it’s advisable to remove outer clothing as soon as you step inside, suggests the pharmacist. If pollen has stuck to your hair, it’s best to take a shower and wash your hair immediately. It’s harder to combat pollen when it’s dry.
Apply Vaseline to Your Nose
Rubbing Vaseline inside your nostrils creates a barrier that can trap pollen before you inhale it. According to Ms. Nevinson, this protective layer can be applied around the nostrils. It’s recommended to do this in the morning, during the day, and at night. The nighttime application can help you sleep better.
Use an Air Purifier
Another way to avoid hay fever is to remove pollen from your environment. An air purifier can help with this by filtering out allergens and pollutants, especially in your bedroom.
Find the Right Medications for You
When pollen from grasses and trees comes into contact with immune cells in the mouth, nose, eyes, and throat, the body mistakenly identifies these particles as an infection and floods these areas with histamine.
Histamine is a natural chemical that leads to hay fever attacks. Therefore, patients experiencing pollen allergy symptoms are advised to take antihistamines. As the expert explained, there are many medications available for alleviating pollen allergy symptoms, ranging from tablets to nasal sprays. To find out which products are right for you, it’s best to consult a doctor.
Distinguish Between Hay Fever Symptoms and COVID-19 Symptoms
Finally, it’s essential to understand the difference between pollen allergy symptoms and those of COVID-19. The typical symptoms of hay fever were mentioned at the beginning of this article. The initial symptoms of COVID-19 include a high fever and persistent cough.
According to Claire Nevinson, sneezing is not a symptom of COVID-19. Additionally, itching in the throat and watery eyes are rarely observed during this illness. Hay fever, on the other hand, does not cause a high fever.