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Hayfever Tips

The high temperatures and sunny days of summer can mean misery to those who suffer from hayfever. Hayfever, an allergic reaction to pollen from plants and trees, was first documented in the early 1800s, but in spite of continued efforts there's still no cure. When pollen enters your eyes, nose or mouth your immune system produces histamine, which impels your respiratory system to expel the pollen by washing or blowing it out. This results in watery eyes, a runny nose and frequent sneezing.

  1. Healthy Living

    • A healthy diet high in vitamin C may lessen the severity of hayfever symptoms but some foods, such as apples, tomatoes, stoned fruits, melons, bananas and celery may exaggerate symptoms. Regular exercise also plays a role in reducing symptoms but should be limited to indoor exercise during hayfever season. Getting a good night's sleep and reducing stress may also make symptoms less severe. Reduce your alcohol intake to avoid dehydration which makes symptoms seem worse. Alcohol may also make you more sensitive to pollen.

    Over-the-Counter Medications

    • To help battle the hayfever symptoms, take an antihistamine daily that doesn't make you drowsy. Using a steroid nasal spray will also help to keep symptoms at bay, but you must use it every day for two to three days to see any results. Anti-inflammatory eye drops will reduce watering and itching. They are generally used twice a day.

    Protecting Yourself

    • Start each day with a bath or shower to eliminate any pollen which may have settled on you during the night. Wash your hands and face regularly throughout the day. Pollen also sticks to your clothes and hair. Shake your clothes off before coming in from outdoors and wash your hair regularly. Rub petroleum jelly, or a similar beeswax product, at the entrance to your nostrils to trap pollen before it can enter your nose. Wearing sunglasses outdoors, especially the wrap-around kind, can help shield your eyes from pollen.

    Avoiding Pollen

    • Pollen counts are highest in the early morning, evening and during thunderstorms. Stay indoors during these times and keep windows closed on hot, dry days. Check the air conditioning in your home and car for a fitted pollen filter. These filters trap pollen and prevent it from circulating in the air. Vacuum often with a bag-less vacuum fitted with a filter and clean the filter frequently. Use the clothes dryer instead of the clothes line on days when pollen counts are high. If you have to use the clothes line, shake clothes vigorously before bringing them indoors.

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