How to combat symptoms in peak hayfever season

Now that spring has finally arrived, it brings with it the return of daffodils, easter eggs, but also sadly, hayfever. Also known as allergic rhinitis, hayfever is an allergic reaction that impacts one in four adults in the UK. It occurs when the immune system overreacts to substances in the air, such as pollen, pet dander and dust. 

With the Met Office launching its first five-day pollen forecast of the year on the 19th of March, hayfever season is officially underway. Seasonal hayfever symptoms usually peak between late March and September, when the pollen count is highest, but the severity and duration can vary. Therefore, the best treatment option can differ for each individual. 

Suhail Jamil, Superintendent Pharmacist at Ashcroft Pharmacy, said: “While it’s a common condition, hayfever can be debilitating, with symptoms disrupting the daily quality of life for many, especially for those who experience it for months at a time or year-round. The good news is that there are various ways to help manage the symptoms, whether that’s through medication or lifestyle changes. However, people commonly put off or avoid trying these methods that can help, choosing to instead suffer in silence.” 

Ashcroft Pharmacy is sharing the different treatment options for hayfever sufferers and a range of methods you can try at home to ease symptoms. 

Seasonal vs perennial allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is often categorised as seasonal or perennial. Although they share the same core symptoms, understanding the differences can help identify the triggers and manage symptoms.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis is often caused by outdoor allergens in the air, like tree pollen in spring, grass pollen in summer and weed pollen in autumn. However, perennial allergic rhinitis refers to year-round symptoms often triggered by indoor allergens, like pet dander and dust mites.

What are the key hayfever symptoms?

Common signs and symptoms of hayfever, whether it's seasonal or perennial, include: 

• Coughing

• Sneezing

• Congested or runny nose

• Red, watery, or itchy eyes

• Itchy ears, nose, mouth, and throat

• Headaches

• Fatigue

Once you've identified the key triggers, together with your healthcare practitioner, you can create a treatment plan to lessen or eliminate your hay fever symptoms, reducing your exposure to the triggers. 

Treating hayfever symptoms

While there is no definitive cure for hayfever, several treatments and strategies can help manage and alleviate its symptoms. There are numerous over-the-counter (OTC) medications available; the task is to determine which one is most effective for you.

Antihistamines can ease mild cases of hayfever symptoms, which are available in a variety of forms, including oral tablets and syrups, as well as topically administered creams and eye drops.Last year, Ashcroft Pharmacy saw its sales for the OTC antihistamine tablets, Fexofenadine, spike in June, even though pollen counts tend to start increasing in late March. Antihistamines can be most effective when taken weeks before pollen counts increase, acting as a preventative measure, especially for those with severe symptoms. However, antihistamines are still beneficial at managing symptoms as they occur.

As antihistamines disrupt sleep cycles, they can make you feel drowsy. If this is the case for you when taking an antihistamine for hayfever, consider taking them at night rather than in the day, and avoid driving or operating machinery if the drowsiness occurs. Non-drowsy antihistamines such as the Fexofenadine tablets are less likely to have this effect, but it’s still possible.

Decongestants are also recommended to relieve nasal congestion by decreasing the oedema in the nasal lining. You can also use saline sprays or nasal rinses, including Nasonex, to help minimise sneezing, congestion and runny noses.

Contact a GP if your hayfever symptoms don’t go away with treatment or worsen. Trouble breathing, severe congestion, or signs of allergic asthma, like wheezing and tightness in your chest, might mean you need prescription medications or immunotherapy.

Minimise exposure to hayfever triggers

As well as OTC medication, there are various home remedies you can try to minimise your exposure to triggers. 

If outdoor allergens, such as tree pollen, cause your hayfever symptoms, consider taking the following measures:

• Check the pollen count before going outdoors

• Use a barrier cream on your nose

• Wear wraparound shades

• Change clothes and shower after being outside

• Use recirculating air conditioning in the car

• Keep the windows and doors closed at home as much as possible

• Avoid cutting grass

• Drying clothes inside instead of outside

• Driving with windows closed

  
  

To minimise the impact of indoor allergens, like dust mite and pet dander, consider incorporating the following steps into your routine:

• Wash pillows, sheets, and other bedding in hot water weekly

• Use dust mite-resistant covers on the mattress, pillow, and quilt

• Remove any woollen underlays or sheepskins from the bedroom

• Remove any plush toys from the home

• Invest in and use an air purifier

• Brush pets daily and bathe them weekly

• Vacuum and dust your home at least once a week

  
  

As well as various remedies that can help you avoid triggers, adopting a healthy lifestyle, with a balanced diet and regular exercise, can help strengthen your immune system for better management of symptoms. Additionally, try to avoid smoking or being around smoke, as this can irritate your nose, throat and lungs, and therefore increase the sensitivity of your airways to pollen.

Hayfever can often be a recurring problem for many people, but there are several ways to manage symptoms and minimise exposure to triggers so that you can still enjoy the brighter seasons. Get in touch with a medical professional for advice.