|
| » » 7 Things You should Know About Hay Fever |
| News and Site Information. |
|
 |
| 7 Things You should Know About Hay Fever |
Date: Sunday 06 June, 2010 |
As the season of sniffles and sneezes gets going, here’s how to take control of your symptoms.
1. Hay fever is an allergic response
Like all allergies, hay fever is an abnormal reaction but the body’s immune system to a normally harmless substance – in this case, pollen. IgE antibodies, cells that normally fight bacteria, see pollen as something that needs to be attacked. When exposed to a certain level of pollen, they release histamine and other chemicals to fight the invader. This in turn triggers a host of symptoms, including sneezing, itchy eyes, a runny nose and even irritability and tiredness.
2. Grass pollen is the chief trigger
In Britain, around 90 per cent of people with hay fever are thought to be allergic to grass pollen. Other common triggers include tree and shrub pollen, mould spores and weeds. Research also suggests that air pollution, such as cigarette smoke or car exhaust fumes, can exacerbate the symptoms. The triggers vary from person to person as well as from region to region.
3. It can strike at different time of year
The time of year at which people begin to experience symptoms depends on the pollen they are allergic to. Trees start to release pollen in April or earlier. Grass pollen follows in mid-June and weeds and shrubs in late summer. So the hay fever season can last form April to October and some people experience symptoms as early as March.
4. There is no cure for hay fever
Hay fever cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be controlled. Treatments include antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays and eye drops, many of which are available from your local health food store.
5. It is worth truing herbal remedies
Hay fever is a sign that your immune system is out of balance, so it is a good idea to give it a boost several weeks before your symptoms usually start. Try a herbal remedy such as echinacea which has immune-balancing properties. Other herbs that may help to bring relief include eucalyptus, euphrasia (taken as an infusion) and elderflower.
6. Visiting a homeopath can help
Homopathic remedies can be useful. It is best to see a homeopath so treatment can be tailored to your symptoms, but if they are mild you could try one of the following remedies taken in the 6cpotency or as directed: Allium cepa for watery eyes and a burning sensation around the nose; Arsenicum album for hot, burning, streaming eyes and sneezing or euphrasia for swollen, irritated eyes with a frequent desire to blink.
7. You can protect yourself
You can’t avoid pollen or spores but reducing your exposure to them can help. Check the pollen count each day on the radio or TC and it it’s going to be high try to stay indoors. Wear wraparound sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes, leave doors and windows closed mid-morning and early evening, when pollen levels tend to peak and avoid parks or fields in the early evening when tends to settle at ground level.
Fix it fast!.
- Try a steam inhalation, adding a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil to the water, to relieve a stuffy nose.
- Apply a cold chamomile compress to sore and itchy eyes (soak two chamomile teabags in water, then cool them in the fridge before using them as eye-masks).
- Use an ioniser in the house to ease breathing..
- If you have a bad attack outside, go indoors as soon as you can. Close doors and windows and sit quietly for a few moments. Change your clothes if possible..
- Drink warm chamomile tea to ease an irritated throat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
