Managing hay fever and asthma: tips to survive pollen season

What are the symptoms of hay fever?

If you've had hay fever since childhood or developed it later in life, you’ll know it can put a slight damper on your summer, turning the joy of warmer weather into a battle with its - quite literally - irritating symptoms.

According to St John Ambulance, hay fever affects over 10 million people in England and is caused by an allergy to pollen. While many people automatically think of flower pollen, the types that most commonly trigger hay fever are actually from grass, rapeseed, and trees.

Hay fever can start affecting you earlier in the year, but it usually peaks between May and July, with symptoms that vary from person to person.

The typical signs of hay fever are:

• Runny or congested nose.

• Itchy nose.

• Sneezing.

• Red, itchy, or watery eyes.

• Scratchy throat.

• Cough caused by mucus draining from the back of the nose (postnasal drip)

Other possible symptoms may include:

• Reduced sense of smell.

• Facial pain or pressure from blocked sinuses.

• Sweating.

• Headaches.

The experts at St John Ambulance recognise that avoiding pollen isn’t easy. However, they offer practical guidance to help reduce your exposure. Even small changes can have a noticeable impact on your comfort and overall quality of life.

They suggest these steps to protect your health during pollen season and in the years to come:

• Wear wraparound sunglasses to prevent pollen from reaching your eyes.

• Apply a thin layer of Vaseline around your nostrils to help block pollen from entering your nose.

• Vacuum regularly and damp dust surfaces around your home to reduce pollen indoors.

• Start taking hay fever medicine a few weeks early to get the full benefits.

• Monitor the local pollen forecast so you can plan your activities.

• If you have asthma, make sure you use your inhaler as directed.

A pharmacist can help you choose the right medicine for your hay fever symptoms, so it’s a good idea to discuss which treatment would work best for you.

However, St John Ambulance advises that if your symptoms worsen despite treatment, you should contact your doctor, as a different approach may be needed.

They stress that if you have asthma and experience chest tightness or a persistent cough, you should seek medical advice immediately.

The charity warns that even a mild allergy - including hay fever - can sometimes pose a serious health hazard. One extreme example is anaphylaxis, a severe reaction in which the immune system responds abnormally to a trigger. This reaction can occur within seconds.

Common triggers of anaphylaxis include:

• Insect stings - such as from bees.

• Certain foods - including nuts.

• Medicines.

• Natural substances - such as latex.

Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include:

• Trouble breathing, wheezing, or noisy breathing.

• Persistent coughing.

• Swelling of the tongue and throat, or puffiness around the eyes.

• Confusion, restlessness, or agitation.

• Signs of shock - such as collapse or loss of consciousness.