A guide to coping with Hay fever.

Hay fever occurs due to an allergy to pollen. The most common allergy is to grass pollen. There are as many as two in 10 people who suffer from hay fever in the UK. The symptoms that come from suffering with hay fever are:

• Frequent sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy and watery eyes
• Itchy throat and mouth
• Feeling tired

There are ways to treat hay fever which will make the summer more comfortable to go out and enjoy the sunshine. These include:

• Nasal sprays
• Eye drops
• Creams that will block the pollen
• Immunotherapy is a treatment for long term sufferers.
• Speaking to your G.P can be helpful, especially if you suffer from asthma as this can irritate it.

If you want to prevent getting hay fever, there are many ways in which this can be done:

• Keep windows and doors shut
• Change your clothes and shower after being outdoors to remove all pollen that may be on you.
• Wear sunglasses when you are outdoors which will prevent eyes from itching and watering.
• Wear Vaseline around the nasal area to stop the pollen from entering your nose.
• Check pollen count before leaving the house. If it is high, try and avoid going out if possible.