Hay fever symptoms: Can hay fever affect your ears? Does hay fever cause itchy eyes?
THE UK is in the grips of a scorching heatwave, and while many of us relish the sunshine, the increased pollen count created misery for hay fever sufferers. So what are the symptoms of hay fever? Can it affect your ears and eyes?
This Morning: Dr Scadding advises on how to relieve hay fever
Pollen levels across the majority of the country have been declared ‘very high’ by the Met Office well into the weekend, as the map below shows.
According to the weather agency’s statistics, one in five people in the UK suffer from hay fever.
The pollen seasons include three main phases: tree pollen from March to May, grass pollen from May to July, and weed pollen from July to September.
That means, if you’re struggling right now, you’re in the grips of grass pollen season - 95 percent of sufferers are allergic to grass pollen.
What are the symptoms?
The NHS confirms that hay fever is usually worse between late March and September, particularly when it’s hot, humid and windy.
The symptoms include:
Sneezing and coughing
A runny or blocked nose
Itchy, red or watery eyes
Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
Loss of smell
Pain around your temples and forehead
- Headache
Earache
Feeling tired
If you have asthma, you might also:
Have a tight feeling in your chest
Be short of breath
Wheeze and cough
The dos and don’ts for at-home treatment:
The NHS advises that, while there is no cure for hay fever there are things you can do to make yourself more comfortable.
Do:
Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes
Shower and change your clothes after you've been outside to wash pollen off
Stay indoors whenever possible
Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible
Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
Buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a special HEPA filter
Don't
Cut grass or walk on grass
Spend too much time outside
Keep fresh flowers in the house
Smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse
Dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen
Let pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen indoors
The Met Office also warns that alcohol worsens symptoms, as beer, wine and spirits contain histamine, the chemical that offsets allergy symptoms in the body.
You should see your GP if your symptoms don't improve after taking medicines available at the pharmacy.