With the intense summer back again, that can only mean one thing. Hay fever season is here to cause problems. It can not only make you feel ill and groggy, but it can also disrupt your day and schedule, either personal or business. Here are some practical ways in which you can prevent hay fever from affecting your day as intensely as it normally would.
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Understanding The Symptoms
There are a variety of different symptoms associated with hay fever. You can learn more about the causes of hay fever by looking at online NHS services, which will list all the symptoms to be on the lookout for. The most common of which include itchy and watery eyes, sneezing and coughing, a blocked nose or even a loss of smell.
You can get other symptoms too, such as headaches and tiredness, or even an itchy throat. The symptoms can be more intense for those that suffer with asthma, as it can make your chest feel tighter and leave you short of breath.
When Hay Fever Comes About
Whilst hay fever can strike at any point in the year, it can be considered to have more of an impact between late March and September. That’s because it’s more intense during warm, humid and windy times, which is prevalent in the summer months. This time period is also when the pollen count is usually at its highest.
Using Vaseline To Stop Pollen
What some people do to help prevent pollen affecting them, is using Vaseline. You can put some around your nostrils that will help trap pollen from getting in and wreaking havoc. This may need to be reapplied throughout the day, as well as washed carefully to keep the pollen away from your nose.
An Effective Antihistamine Can Help
One of the best ways in which you can prevent the effects of hay fever getting to you, is by using tried and tested medicine. That’s because this type of medicine can be used to help treat and prevent the symptoms of allergies, itchy skin and hay fever from happening. They have even been known to help relieve the reactions to insect bites too.
There are different types of antihistamines on the market, from fexofenadine to promethazine. You should be aware that whilst they all serve the same purpose of reducing the symptoms of hay fever, some will have different effects. Antihistamines such as promethazine, hydroxyzine and chlorphenamine will make you drowsy, which is recommended for night time. Whereas you can get non-drowsy antihistamines such as fexofenadine, loratadine and cetirizine, which can keep you going throughout the day.
There are a few different ways you can purchase antihistamines, but one of the easiest is online where it gets sent to your door. This means you don’t have to walk out in the pollen filled world until you’ve fully prepared yourself.
You can buy fexofenadine online via Chemist Click which not only can give you next day delivery, but also offers a confidential service with plain and discrete packaging. So, if you’re sharing your home with others, you don’t have to worry about anyone noticing your private medical supply.
With antihistamines, they come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and strengths. It could be liquid or tablet based, as well as an eyedrop or even creams. It’ll come down to personal preference, as you can also dictate the strength you’ll need. You should consult a doctor, either in person or online, to find what strength you will need.
Shower And Change Clothes After Going Out
If you’ve had to go out during a high pollen count day, then you should think about what to do when you return home. For example, you should change out of the clothes you went out in, putting them into the wash as soon as possible. This will help keep the pollen away from your face, and prevent it spreading onto cushions and other parts of your home.
That’s why it’s also a good idea to shower. As this will help keep the pollen away from you and keep your face as clear as possible. If any pollen remains on your body when you get home, then you could end up getting symptoms of hay fever later on by rubbing your hand onto somewhere that’s ridden with pollen, before accidentally putting it back onto your face.
Keeping Windows And Doors Shut At Home
It’s still possible for you to get affected by hay fever even at home. It could be because you have a garden space with pollen rich flowers, or it could just be from the air coming into your home. You can check weather apps on your smartphone to track hay fever, allowing you to plan for your day at home or out and about.
This is why it’s a good idea to keep your doors and windows shut during a high pollen count day, as you will minimise the amount of pollen that could potentially get into your home. Whilst it will most likely be a less severe reaction, everyone will have different tolerance levels, so it’s worth experimenting with windows and doors to see how you get affected with the amount of air coming in.
No one wants to sit inside on a hot summer’s day with all the doors and windows shut. If your reaction to hay fever is intense, then consider opening a window in a different room, to allow natural air flow through that’s not going to throw pollen straight at your face.
Wear Wraparound Sunglasses When Out
What some people do to help reduce hay fever symptoms, is wear wraparound sunglasses when outside. The issue with normal sunglasses is that air and pollen can get trapped in between your eyes and the glasses. This can, of course, heighten the chances of you reacting to it and increasing the negative symptoms.
Wraparound sunglasses will help keep pollen away from your eyes, making them less irritable in general. It may not completely protect you, meaning you will need to take caution with rubbing your face with hands or clothes. If you do need to wipe your face, consider using a disposable tissue or wipe that will be clean beforehand.
What You Should Avoid
Whilst there are actions you can take to help keep symptoms of hay fever away, there are also things you should avoid where possible. The most obvious one being limiting your time outside during high pollen counts, or when flowers have sprung.
One of the most common causes of hay fever comes from fresh flowers and cut grass. This is why many hay fever sufferers avoid the park when the grass is cut, as it can hit them with heavy symptoms just from being in the area.
Pets can also carry pollen. This means if you have a cat or a dog, they could go outside and rub themselves in pollen before coming back inside. This could lead to them running back to you and getting pollen onto your skin or clothes. Even if they don’t come directly to you after being outside, they could get onto your bed and pillows, as well as sofas. It will sit there until you engage with it, which will cause you to get symptoms.
