Hay Fever Treatment & Prevention

Hay fever is the common name for an allergic reaction of the nose, throat and eyes.  It is caused by an allergy to things such as pollen from plants.  Things that cause allergies are called allergens.

Hay fever usually appears about the same time each year, e.g. in spring or summer.  This is when there is a lot of pollen in the air because many grasses, weeds or trees are flowering.  This is called seasonal allergic rhinitis.

However some people get hay fever all year.  This is called perennial allergic rhinitis.  It is usually caused by an allergy to animal hair, house-dust mite and mould.  Have fever can be made worse by things that irritate an already sensitive nose such as smoke, chemical fumes or sudden changes in temperature.

Signs & Symptoms of Hay Fever
When allergens enter the nose, throat or eyes, special cells called mast cells become active (like a volcano erupting).  These cells release many substances, including histamine, which cause symptoms such as:

• Sneezing
• Runny or blocked nose.  Your sense of smell may be affected
• Itchy nose
• Watery, puffy, itchy, bleary or red eyes
• Tickly or burning feeling in your throat or roof of the mouth.  You may also get a cough or wheeze.
• Headache (due to blocked sinuses).
• Itchy ears (inside)

These symptoms are often worse in the mornings or on windy days. Some people might get confused between a cold and hay fever.  The symptoms can be similar ?? e.g. runny nose, but with hay fever the mucus from the nose is more watery and often there is more sneezing.

Treating Hay Fever
Medicines can't stop you being allergic but they can relieve or prevent symptoms of hay fever.

Antihistamines
Antihistamine medicines work to prevent histamine being released.  For them to work best, you need to start antihistamines before you are exposed to the allergens.  If you start an antihistamine when you already have hay fever, it may be two to three days before you symptoms go away.

Antihistamines come as tablets, syrups, nose drops or nose sprays and eye drops.   Antihistamines can make people feel sleepy; however there are non-drowsy one available.

Decongestants
Decongestants are sometimes used for a short term to relieve the runny nose and puffy eyes with hay fever.  Nasal decongestant sprays should not be used for more than five days in a row.  If you use them for longer than this you may get ??rebound congestion?? where your nose will get even more blocked than when you started.

Make sure you:

• Tell your pharmacist of doctor what other medicines you take, as some medicines can interact with antihistamines and decongestants.
• Check with your pharmacist if you have a medical condition like diabetes, glaucoma or prostrate problems as some hay fever medications may make these worse.
• Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are or think you are pregnant, or if you are breast feeding.
• Avoid drinking alcohol or driving a vehicle if you take antihistamines that make you drowsy.
• See your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after five days of treatment or if they become worse.

When to see you doctor about Allergies:
See you doctor if you have:

• A high temperature
• An ear ache
• Swollen glands in your neck
• Green discharge from your nose or eyes
• Wheezing or shortness of breath
• Symptoms mentioned earlier, but only one side (i.e. only one nostril or eye is affected).

Preventing Hay Fever
Try to avoid things you know you are allergic to.  Keep your windows and doors closed during windy days.  Vacuum your carpet often and shampoo frequently.  Keep pets outdoors.  Have a smoke free house or workplace.

Hay Fever Medications The following allergy treatments can be purchased online from this website: Zyrtec Zyrtec relieves itchy, red, watery eyes; sneezing, runny, itchy nose; and postnasal drip. It also reduces chronic hives and itching associated with hives. Clarinex Clarinex provides non-drowsy 24-hour relief from allergy symptoms and protects against year-round allergens such as dust mite, animal dander, and mold spores. Flonase/Flixonase Flixonase (Flonase) makes breathing easier by reducing swelling inside your nose - relieving multiple nasal symptoms of congestion, sneezing, and itchy, runny nose. Seasonal allergies including hayfever can be treated effectively with Flixonase (Flonase). Alanase Alanase helps calm and reduce the effects of streaming itchy burning eyes, sneezing and sinus blockage. Beconase Beconase relieves symptoms associated with hayfever such as sneezing, runny or itchy nose, and burning, watery or itchy eyes. Beconase hayfever works by reducing swelling and inflammation in the nose and has been shown to be a very effective hayfever remedy. Claratyne Claritin antihistamine hayfever relief relieves symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis, (hay fever) such as sneezing, runny or itchy nose, and burning, watery or itchy eyes. It is also used for the relief of symptoms and signs of chronic urticaria, (hives) and other allergic skin disorders. Telfast Also known in the USA as Allegra, is a fast acting anti-histamine. Telfast is used to relieve the symptoms of hayfever (seasonal allergic rhinitis) such as sneezing, itchy watery eyes, and itchy, blocked or runny nose. Telfast does this by blocking the actions of the histamine that causes these unwanted effects.