How to successfully manage your hay fever this summer

Hay fever is a common condition caused by allergies, and impacts millions of people each and every year. With common symptoms including sneezing, a runny nose, watery eyes, and redness around the nose and throat, this is an unpleasant condition that can cause real misery to sufferers.

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to manage your hay fever and live an active life, and we have some of the top tips to help you achieve this.

How can I manage my hay fever?

There are a few steps that you can take to manage your hay fever, and these include:

- Know your triggers

The first thing to do in order to successfully manage your hay fever is to identify what triggers it. If you know what causes your allergy, then you will be able to avoid those causes as much as possible. 

Common hay fever triggers include pollen from trees, grasses and flowers, dust mites, pets, and moulds.

You should also consider other factors which may trigger your hay fever, such as stress, weather changes, or even food intolerances. By identifying these triggers, you will be able to plan ahead as much as possible, and still enjoy daily life in comfort.

- Avoid pollens

Pollen is one of the most common triggers for hay fever, so avoiding it is essential if you want to stay well throughout the summer months. There are many ways to avoid pollen, including wearing a face mask when outdoors, using air conditioning units, and using anti-pollination products.

- Maintain good hygiene

It’s important to keep yourself clean and maintain good hygiene during the summer months, as dirt can easily get into your nasal passages and make irritation worse – this can also be an easy way to transfer pollen into your body. 

You should wash your hands regularly, especially before eating, and try not to touch your face with dirty hands. The same goes for any surfaces that you come into contact with – be sure to wipe down counters, tables, and phones to minimise the spread of pollen from place to place.

- Try a range of treatments

While there are many different treatments available for hay fever, there are certain things that you can do on your own without needing professional medical advice. This includes using saline sprays at home to clear the nose and allow you to breathe more easily, as well as taking over-the-counter remedies like antihistamines. Once you have identified your allergens and triggers, try to avoid these where possible, and consider allergy testing to help you identify possible triggers. 

You can also try injectables; do some research to see if a hayfever injection in Essex can help you this summer, or whether there are alternatives that may suit your needs.

Holistic remedies can also help – herbal teas and oils have been shown to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life in many sufferers, and tend to be cheaper than some medicated options.

Get plenty of sleep

Sleep is vital for our overall health, and it has been proven that people who sleep less than seven hours per night are more likely to suffer from hay fever. 

Therefore, getting enough rest each night will help prevent hay fever symptoms. Try to go to bed earlier and wake up later, and ensure that you don’t use electronic devices too late at night.

The bottom line

Hay fever can be a debilitating condition for sufferers, and while there is currently no definitive cure, the steps and tips outlined above should help you navigate the summer months, and ensure that you are ready to tackle hay fever anytime it tries to ruin your day.