7 Food Allergies You Didn't Know About

Expert's 'little-known Tip' To Stop Hay Fever Symptoms Getting Worse

Around one in five of us will suffer from hay fever at some point in our lives, with grass pollen being the most common trigger - but one expert says a simple solution can help

Hay fever gets worse as we enter summer (

Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

As the seasons shift, those plagued by hay fever brace themselves for the yearly pollen attack.

The NHS reports that around one in five of us will experience hay fever at some stage in our lives, with grass pollen being the most common culprit. The NHS lists symptoms as sneezing and coughing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy, red or watery eyes, loss of smell, pain around your temples and forehead, and fatigue.

In this struggle, an unexpected solution has surfaced: your windows, reports Gloucestershire Live. Window specialist, Danny Stalman, from Plan-It Windows, has offered this advice which he claims can decrease the amount of pollen that might invade your home.

"Every year, hay fever sufferers face consistent battles, especially during spring and summer," he said. "Research suggests that applying a thin layer of Vaseline on window frames and edges can significantly alleviate hay fever symptoms. Pollen grains are notorious for finding their way indoors through even the smallest window cracks.

"By creating a barrier with Vaseline, you effectively trap pollen before it enters your home, providing much-needed relief for allergy sufferers. Our team couldn't recommend this simple yet effective hack highly enough to our customers seeking ways to combat hay fever.

"The application of Vaseline acts as a preventative measure, ensuring a pollen-free indoor environment. We've seen first-hand the positive impact of using Vaseline on windows to alleviate hay fever symptoms. This cost-effective solution offers a practical way for homeowners to enjoy fresher indoor air during allergy season.

"We recognise the importance of finding innovative ways to improve indoor air quality. Applying Vaseline on windows is a smart strategy to minimise pollen infiltration and create a more comfortable living space for individuals affected by hay fever.

"To help combat pollen entering your home, we advise against opening your windows in the early to mid-morning, as that's when flowers release pollen, and in the evening, when hot air cools and falls, carrying pollen with it. The pollen count is likely to be higher at these times. Ensure window frames and sills are free from mould and condensation to reduce pollen infiltration into your home."

It's Not Your Imagination. Your Allergies Are Getting Worse.

It's spring, and I love spring more than I love almost anything else about the natural world, but I don't love the pollen. My eyes itch. My nose is stopped up. First thing in the morning I sneeze. Last thing at night I sneeze. My husband turns away from me to sleep because the pollen grains clinging to my hair make him sneeze, too.

I was never prone to seasonal allergies before I moved to Middle Tennessee, which is not even one of the 10 most challenging places for allergy sufferers in this country. I am now up to three over-the-counter medications a day, and I have developed a tiny dependence on Fisherman's Friend lozenges, which work a bit like the Vicks VapoRub of my childhood memories. Vicks is still around — the comedian Wanda Sykes has a wonderful bit about it — but Fisherman's Friend doesn't announce my presence in advance the way Vicks would.

I also drink gallons of an herbal tea labeled "congestion relief," though I no longer believe that relief is possible. The hill of spring allergies, which in Middle Tennessee used to be on the downslope by now, has become an all-year mountain, with tree pollen and grass pollen and ragweed pollen rolling together in great clouds from late February right up till Thanksgiving.

But it's worse in spring. I can stand at my back door and watch a white pine like this one sending out waves of pollen that remind me of the crop-duster scene in "North by Northwest." In spring, my glasses are coated with pollen outside and in. In spring, my little red Nissan Leaf looks like a little orange Leaf, and the gray boards of our back deck look as though they've grown a coating of new moss.

The only relief for any of it is a good soaking rain, but the reprieve of rain is only temporary. Increased rainfall prolongs the blooming season of many trees, grasses and other plants. (Most wildflowers are pollinated by insects and therefore aren't prime allergy-inducers, but some, like ragweed, are wind-pollinated, which means they literally throw their pollen to the winds — and into human faces.) A prolonged blooming season in turn allows plants to produce more pollen.

Seasonal allergies are nothing new, but they've been worsening as the climate grows warmer. The growing season starts earlier now — in North America an average of 20 days earlier — and lasts longer, too, extending the length of time when plants are pumping pollen into the air. And the resulting misery arises not just because there's more pollen to breathe in or because it's around for increasingly longer seasons. At least one study has indicated that the more carbon there is in the air, the more potent the pollen itself is.

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Westfield Health Bulletin: Gesundheit! Good Health Includes Managing Seasonal Allergies

God bless you. Gesundheit. Spring is here along with red, watery eyes, the sounds of sneezing, and whistling, sniffing noses. Allergies are blossoming along with the beautiful flowers and trees with radiant blooms and vibrant green leaves. Allergic rhinitis or seasonal allergies can occur seasonally or all year round. Symptoms can be mild to debilitating. Studies have shown allergies, for most, are worse than ever.

The most common cause of allergy symptoms is pollen. Pollen is the fine powder produced by trees, flowers, grasses and weeds one finds all over parked cars and patio furniture. There are hundreds of plants and trees that release pollen. The most common tree offenders are birch, oak and maple trees. The most common grasses to cause symptoms are perennial rye, bluegrass and Bermuda grass. Overall, ragweed is the most common allergen.

The immune system defends the body from viruses and bacteria. With allergies, some immune systems incorrectly identify pollen as harmful. The body then produces histamines and other chemicals to fight against the pollen. Approximately one quarter of the U.S. Population have seasonal allergies. It is thought that genetics may play a role.

Most common seasonal allergy symptoms are watery eyes, sneezing and stuffy nose. Other symptoms include sinus pressure, facial pain, sore throat, post-nasal drip, cough, wheezing, headaches, hives and swelling beneath eyes. Allergies exacerbate asthma and other respiratory diseases. Untreated allergies can become more severe, lead to chronic inflammation, damage tissue and organs, weaken immune system, cause fungal and bacterial infections of the sinuses, lungs, ears or skin, severe fatigue, sleep issues, structural changes of the sinuses and decreased quality of life.

Minor allergy symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter non-drowsy antihistamines (Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra and others) and drowsy antihistamines (Benadryl), along with OTC nasal steroid sprays such as Flonase and others, and Sudafed. Herbal medications butterbar or spirulina have been recommended for allergies. As with any herbal remedy, check with your medical provider to avoid interactions with other medications. Afrin is often used or recommended. It is very important to know that using Afrin for more than two to three days can cause severe rebound nasal congestion.

Non-pharmaceutical fixes revolve around avoiding allergens. This can be done with masking outdoors, keeping windows closed, using air purifiers (preferably with HEPA filtering) or dehumidifiers, vacuuming the floors frequently, staying in on dry, windy days, avoiding yard work and gardening, and covering mattresses and pillows with allergen covers. Mind the pollen count. Local weather reports usually include the pollen count in their forecast.

Health experts and meteorologists agree that climate change contributes to longer and more intense allergy seasons. Growing zones are changing. Increased temperatures cause plants to bloom earlier and prolong the pollen season. Increased rainfall causes plants to release more pollen. More frequent thunderstorms make pollen grains burst, making them more irritating. Shifting wind patterns carry pollen more widely. Increased carbon dioxide makes pollen more potent. The number of allergens has doubled over the last 25 years.

It is important to manage allergies for general health and to avoid complications. If over-the-counter medications do not help, see a primary care provider. One may be referred to an allergist for allergy testing and treatment. Long-term management includes allergy shots or allergy drops. A newer treatment of three injections over eight weeks, called ExACT immunoplasty, is more convenient.

The tradition of saying "God bless you" when someone sneezes originated with the belief that one's soul could exit the body with a sneeze. "Gesundheit" actually means "health" or "wishing good health."

Manage your allergies. Do what you can to help protect this beautiful Earth from climate change for the sake of the Earth, its people and allergy sufferers. God bless you and gesundheit.

Take care of yourself and someone else.

Juanita Carnes is a Westfield resident and a nurse practitioner with 38 years of experience in a hospital emergency department and urgent care facilities. She served 30 years on the Westfield Board of Health.

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