What is hayfever?

The medical name for hayfever is allergic rhinitis which means an allergy affecting the nose.

Hayfever is either seasonal, like in spring when there is plenty of pollen or new plant growth triggering an allergy response, or perennial which means all year round. The severity and type of hayfever varies from person to person, although most people experience mild symptoms, hayfever is a serious allergy with symptoms that seriously impact people’s ability to go about their day to day life.

Those people that have allergies causing dermatitis or asthma are generally more likely to suffer from hayfever; but for everyone the answer to relieving hayfever is to minimise the exposure to whatever is causing the symptoms.

Symptoms of hayfever

Most hayfever sufferers experience sneezing, itching and burning eyes and throat, and either blocked or running nose. Other symptoms can include aches in the jaw and teeth caused by the pressure of blocked sinuses, popping in the ears, headaches and generally feeling under the weather.

What are the treatments for hayfever?

When you have an allergy the body releases a substance called histamine, which is why the most common medicines used to treat allergies like hay fever are called antihistamines. These block the effect of histamine and prevent the body from releasing any more histamine which should stop symptoms getting worse.

Antihistamine treatments are available with a prescription from your doctor and are available over the counter at Life Pharmacy.

Other treatments for hayfever

Treatments to help ease nasal blockage and congestion of hayfever usually involve a nasal solution that may be either dropped or sprayed into the nostrils. These work by washing out the nostrils or by helping to dry up and prevent further secretions from the sinuses running down the nostrils or down the back of the throat.

Before you use a nasal decongestant spray, talk to our community pharmacists to make sure you buy the correct nasal spray to relieve and prevent ongoing congestion. Decongestion treatments for hayfever are different to similar treatments used to treat congestion caused by colds and flu.

We are available for support

Talk to our community pharmacists about the right medicine to treat hayfever, and seek their advice about preventing as well as treating hay fever whether you suffer from this occasionally or every day.