If you're one of the millions of Australians who suffer from Hayfever, Spring is likely to be the most miserable time of year, but antihistamines aside, there are lots of simple solutions.
Suffer from hayfever? At least you can reassure yourself that you're not alone. Nearly one in five Australians endure seasonal allergic rhinitis, to use its fancy name. That's just shy of 4.5 million people. Many people are getting hayfever for the first time at an older age too, with some people starting to have symptoms in their fifties. Pollen season is also getting longer, with wetter, warmer and possibly earlier springs.
Stinging eyes, blocked or steaming noses, endless sneezing - hayfever symptoms are pretty horrendous and it's all down to your immune system reacting to pollen as if it were poison. It goes to work creating histamine in response to the allergen and this causes inflammation in the body, leading to swlling on the nasal passages and restriction of the amount of air that can pass through the nose. Eyes become itchy, red or watery, and vision can be affected. Sometimes the respiratory passages in the chest are affected too, causing wheezing and discomfort.
Many can control their hayfever with medications, such as nasal corticosteroids and antihistamines, but quite a few people struggle with side effects that are often attributed to these medications, such as stinging from nasal sprays and drowsiness from antihistamines. If you want to combat the seasonal sniffles without taking medicine, here are some tips.
Avoid Pollen
Common advice is to stay indorrs in the morning and evening to avoid the highest of the pollen levels - but this is just the time you need or want to be out and about. The first step to stop breathing in as much pollen as possible is to use a pollen-barrier balm. This works by trapping pollen in the nostrils before it gets in the body. Less pollen in means less or no reaction. Apply it first thing when you wake up, after showering, before bedtime and every four to six hours in between.
- HayMax organic drug-free pollen barrier balms also work for dust and pet allergens, and are great for the kids when they're taking and preparing for exams.
- Fess Nasal Gel contains Vitamin E, olive oil and sesame seed oil to soothe and moisturise sore, overly rubbed red noses.
Ease Irritated Eyes
If you can, take time out to sit somewhere quiet and dark indoors. A couple of cold chamomile tea bags or slices of chilled cucmber on the yeys can really help relieve the puffiness.
- A.Vogel eye drops contain euphrasia to soothe and lubricate angry peepers. Also suitable for contacts.
- Similasan Allergy Eye Relief drops is a homeopathic preparation with all-natural active ingredients.
Stop that Scratchy Throat
One of the most forgotten, yet painful, hayfever symptoms is the sore throat, and there are a number of reasons for this problem developing. Firstly, as hayfever blocks the nose and sinuses, sufferers are forced to breathe through their mouth constantly, which leaves the throat sore, red, dry and irritate. Secondly, hayfever causes sinus drainage, or "post-nasal drip." This is a build-up of mucus at the baack of the nose which then "drips" down to the throat and can result in chronic pain and infection. Sore throats can also be made much worse by being dehydrated, especially on a hot day.
- Strepsils Plus Anaesthetic Throat Spray helps ease a sore throat. It contains the active ingredient Lignocaine, a local anaesthetic.
Prevent the Problem
"Quercetin inhibits the release of histamine, making it nature's antihistamine," explains nutritionist Dr Sam Chrstie. "it's a member of the flavonoid family of plant pigments and is found in foods such as onions, apples and black tea. Flavonoids are hugely important to the health of our bodies, as they neutralise free radicals so they become less reactive compounds. These antioxidant properties inhibit the production and release of histamines."
- Bioceutical's Quercetin is available in bottles of 60 tablets (600mg).
- Salin Plus Salt Therapy Air Purifier removes airborne pollutants in the home like pollen, dust mites and pet dander, plus the salt particles it emits help to clear excess mucous in the airways.