Springtime, a lovely time of the year; flowers begin to bloom; trees burst into life; birds sing and the grass becomes greener, ready for its first cut. Some people actually dread this time of year. Their eyes begin to itch and they cough and sneeze. They are unlucky enough to suffer from what we call hay fever.
Hay fever is caused by an allergy to the pollen produced by trees and plants. This pollen is carried in the air. Sufferer’s bodies believe that the pollen may be a harmful virus and so try to fight it. There are tests that can be given to determine what type of pollen is causing the problem and this could give the sufferer the information to allow them to avoid certain plants at times of the year when they would be most at risk. Spring time is not the only time of year that pollen is in the air. Some plants do not produce pollen until much later in the year. The pollen count is usually featured on the television after the local weather forecasts. Though this is usually a very general forecast, It can help give advance warning that there will be a lot of pollen around.
It is advisable for those who get hay fever to stay indoors as much as possible when the pollen count is high, but this can be impracticable as they may still have to get to work etc. They must also try to avoid areas where there is freshly mown grass.
There are medicines and treatments that can help reduce the symptoms of hay fever. Antihistamines are recognised as an effective antidote, but some of these treatments can cause drowsiness and so anyone who is driving or working with machinery should take extra care. If you smear Vaseline on the inside of your nostrils, it can trap the pollen particles before they can be inhaled, but this could be unsightly and uncomfortable. Nasal drops are available and some natural oils such as a ready to apply ‘rub on’ aromatherapy blend can help. If it is an extreme case then a doctor should be consulted as to what would be best to use. He can carry out the test to determine which allergen is causing your hay fever.
There are new treatments being developed so sufferers may see welcome improvements in the years to come and be able, like most of us, to enjoy the pleasures of being in the great outdoors.
