7 Surprising Triggers of Anaphylaxis
Warning To Hay Fever Sufferers As 5-day 'pollen Bomb' Could Trigger 3 Nasty Infections
FROM stuffing up your nose, to tickling your throat and making your head feel fuzzy, pollen allergies can manifest in a number of different parts of your body.
Itchy, red and streaming eyes is a misery most hay fever sufferers know all too well.
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Hay fever can affect your nose, eyes, head and throat4
Hay fever can make your peeper more vulnerable to infections like styesCredit: AlamyBut the agony of hay fever might not end there for some.
A GP has warned that the ongoing 'pollen bomb' swirling around the UK could trigger three types of nasty infections in hay fever sufferers' eyes.
GP, Dr Nisa Aslam advisor to www.Goldeneyecare.Co.Uk eye infection treatment, said it could increase the risk of allergic eye conditions and eye infections, such as conjunctivitis, styes and blepharitis, bringing unexpected misery for many.
She explained that hay fever is caused by the reaction of the immune system to pollen, which triggers the release of histamine.
This in turn will cause unpleasant hay fever symptoms to manifest, such as a runny, blocked nose, sneezing, coughing, and itchy, red eyes.
Dr Aslam said your peepers can be especially sensitive to allergens like pollen, which causes hay fever.
"When pollen invades the eyes, they become itchy, watery, swollen and red," she explained.
"And if we rub our eyes – which is very tempting when they itch – they become susceptible to infections such as styes, conjunctivitis or blepharitis."
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I've lost 2st due to worrying about loved one - I have no appetite...Please helpStyes are small, painful lumps that appear on the eyelid, which can make the sensitive skin around your peeper red and swollen.
Conjunctivitis - also known as red or pink eye - can be caused by allergies and infections, leaving peepers red, burning and gritty feeling, with pus that sticks to lashes.
My hay fever symptoms turned out to be an allergy to every day items like crisp packets, makeup and drink cansFinally, blepharitis can makes eyelids swollen and itchy, with flakes and crusts clogging the roots of the lashes.
"Such eye conditions require immediate treatment to prevent them getting worse," Dr Aslam said.
She recommended the GoldenEye Eye Ointment for all three eye conditions, as it contains antiseptics to help stop bacteria from growing and multiplying, or the Golden Eye Drops, which also have antifungal properties
For acute bacterial conjunctivitis, she recommended the GoldenEye Antibiotic Eye Ointment.
Hay fever symptoms and how to treat them
HAY FEVER can cause a range of different symptoms, affecting your nose, throat, eyes and sometimes even your ears.
Typical symptoms include:
Less commonly, you may also experience:
To ease sneezing or a runny and blocked nose, try using a nasal spray alongside antihistamines.
And to soothe dry, sore and watery eyes, allergy relief drops can be used to help.
Here's other things you can do to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high.
Source: NHS
The NHS recommends treating these eye conditions at home, relieving your peepers with warm flannels and painkillers and getting advise from a pharmacist if they don't go away within a few days.
Dr Aslam also shared some tips for taking care of your eyes during hay fever season, to prevent infections in the first place.
"Thoroughly wash the eyes each night to get rid of any pollen left in the eye.
"Try to keep windows, including car windows, closed to prevent entry of pollen and for best eye protection wear wraparound sunglasses when the pollen count is high.
"Keep an eye on the Met Office pollen forecast. Also avoid going outside when the pollen count is at its highest – in the middle of the morning or the early evening."
The Met Office has been issuing warnings about surging pollen counts, with 'very high' levels expected to continue until the end of this week in most of the UK.
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Pollen counts were 'very high' on Tuesday across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as Strathclyde in Scotland4
Pollen spread will remain at similar levels across the week More intense pollen seasonsDr Aslam said: "Hay fever is getting increasingly common, with 49 per cent of people suffering from hay fever symptoms.
"The pollen season is getting longer which is considered to be caused by climate change.
"Atmospheric change affects the release of pollen and a study showed that the start of the pollen season is occurring 10-40 days earlier and with greater intensity.
"Northern countries like the UK are expected to fare the worst because of larger temperature increases."
And contrary to what you might assume, your hay fever symptoms might be worse in the city rather than the countryside.
According to the GP: "Tree pollen could be worse in cities due to increasing traffic and urbanisation and research has also found that outdoor air pollution increases the allergic strength of tree pollen as a result of changing the structure of the pollen proteins."
The best hay fever treatments on a budget
1. Allergy Eye Mist
If you hate the thought of drops, consider an eye mist which works in the same way – just spray it once or twice onto closed eyelids to to three times a day.
Try Optrex hay fever relief eye drops, 10ml - £6, from Tesco.
2. Cetirizine Allergy & Hay Fever Tablets
Products containing Cetirizine work to combat allergies without making you feel tired.
Superdrug's pack of 30 tablets comes in at £5.45.
3. Hay Fever Relief Nasal Spray
For over-the-counter relief you could try Pirinase Allergy Relief Nasal Spray for Adults x 60 Sprays from Pharmacy2U, £4.98
Or for something on prescription, try Beclometasone Nasal Spray from ChemistClick, £5.49.
4. Vaseline
Dabbing a little bit of petroleum jelly around the edges of your nose works as a barrier to trap pollen before you breathe it in.
Get a 50g pot for £1.80 at Boots.
5. The Eye Doctor Allergy Hay Fever Compress
The Eye Doctor Allergy Hay Fever Compress has thermal dynamic fabric, which uses regulated evaporation to cool more rapidly.
It helps to reduce puffiness, swelling, itching, inflammation and even headaches, and comes with an adjustable comfy strap.
You can buy it at Superdrug for £8.99.
6. Throat spray
Ultra Chloraseptic Anaesthetic Throat Spray contains the active ingredient benzocaine which belongs to the group of medicines called local anaesthetics.
You can buy Ultra Chloraseptic Anaesthetic Throat Spray for £6 from Amazon
Doctor Warns Drivers With Hay Fever Of One Thing They Can Do To Help Symptoms
A medical professional has shared a handy tip for hay fever sufferers who are hitting the road this summer.
As the warmer weather rolls in, those plagued by the allergy will be all too familiar with the discomfort it brings. Hay fever is a common condition that can cause a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes.
While there's no cure, there are measures you can take to alleviate symptoms. While most people are aware of the standard treatments like antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays, these aren't always readily available when driving. To assist, one doctor has offered advice on what you can do to help manage your symptoms while on the move.
Dr Sooj, known as @doctorsooj on TikTok, has shared his wisdom for those struggling with the allergy. He specifically discusses what drivers can do, emphasising the role of filters and their maintenance.
He advises: "If you are driving a lot, make sure that your car air vent filter has been changed recently. And if you are really suffering, you can get a high-efficiency particular air filter."
According to Halfords, "your car's cabin filter (also known as a pollen filter) is responsible for keeping the air inside your vehicle as clean as possible, filtering out contaminants from the air circulated by your heaters and air conditioning."
"You may also hear it referred to as an 'air filter' however, it's important to be aware that your car has different types of air filters, for the engine and for the cabin. When replacing your filter, be sure you've chosen a cabin air filter and not an engine air filter."
The experts have highlighted two key signs that suggest it's time to swap out those filters. They urge people that if the draught from your vents is fainter than usual, or has dwindled over time, it's a clue that it will likley need changing.
They add that if your car's interior smells a bit old and musty, it's another sign to change the filter. They explain that the smell indicates bacteria thriving on the particulates stuck in the filter, leading to that unpleasant aroma. So the sooner you change it, the better.
Doctor Explains Why So Many Have Hayfever Symptoms And Itchy Eyes This Year
June 2024 weather means it hasn't even felt like summer - and yet so any of seem to have the dreaded hayfever. This week (17 June), The Met Office has said the pollen count for the South East is 'Very High' - the highest it can be.
If you're reading this through itchy, watery eyes and pausing to sneeze, chances are you have hay fever. More people in the UK suffer from hay fever than any other health condition, with over 20% of the population falling victim to sniffles and sneezes each year - a figure that's predicted to double by 2030. And there is evidence that climate change is causing pollen season to last longer. We sought advice from an allergy expert.
Key symptoms of Hay feverIf you have asthma, you might also:
But Gideon Lack, a professor of paediatric allergy at King's College London and head of the Children's Allergy Service at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Trust, emphasised that sufferers should not ignore the psychological symptoms either.
He said: "Hay fever is not just itchy eyes and a runny nose - it can cause decreased attention and fatigue. And very often people think their drowsiness is due to anti-histamine medication but it's actually due to the hay fever, which can affect your sleep and makes you feel extremely tired."
Gideon Lack is professor of paediatric allergy at Kings College London - he says it's important not to ignore your symptoms (Image: Gideon Lack) Pollen seasonsMost people are allergic to grass pollen, which is generally released around mid-May to July. Rain, wind, temperature and sunshine all affect how much pollen will be produced and how much it will be dispersed. Given we have had some warm sunshine and some rain, this is ideal conditions for good grass growth and pollen production
To determine which type of pollen allergy you have: Professor Lack advised: "March-April is tree pollen season rather than grass pollen which starts in May-July. If you tend to experience symptoms earlier in the year, you probably have a birch pollen allergy. A good indicator is if you also have Oral Allergy Syndrome. This is when consuming certain fruits, like apples or nuts can initiate hay fever symptoms.
"It's caused because the structure of the protein within the food and the pollen are very similar. The immune system recognises this and directs an allergic response to it. People affected can usually eat the same fruits or vegetables in cooked form because the proteins are distorted during the heating process."
While all hay fever symptoms may benefit from antihistamines and nasal sprays, knowing which specific pollen is your trigger can be beneficial. Your GP may be able to refer you for allergy testing at a specialist allergy clinic.
This is usually done via skin prick test - to see which substance causes a raised, red bump on your skin. The use of commercial allergy-testing kits isn't recommended by the NHS, as they can be unreliable compared to those carried out by accredited professionals.
Professor Lack explained: "Knowing your specific trigger can be useful to inform treatment. For example, if it's caused by animals, you might decided not to let your pet sleep in your bedroom. Many people don't know about this kind of test and don't seek the treatment."
Treatments - 'don't suffer in silence'.Your GP should be your first point of call; they might prescribe a steroid treatment, such as a steroid nasal spray. Failing that, your GP may refer you for immunotherapy.
The method involves receiving minuscule amounts of pollen either via an injection or a tablet so as to slowly bolster your immunity against pollen. This breed of treatment typically commences in the winter season about three months ahead of the start of the hay fever period. However, immunotherapy is a specialist service which may not be readily accessible everywhere.
Professor Lack said: "The number one problem is people learn to put up with their symptoms and don't do anything about them. It is possible with good medication to optimise and improve your quality of life. You wouldn't put up with a chronic cold six months a year."
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