How to Beat Hay Fever This Summer

How to Beat Hay Fever This Summer

Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is basically an allergy to pollen. In the spring and summer months when the pollen count is high, the pollen from trees, blossom, flowers, grass or even weeds, finds its way into your nose and eyes as you go about your day to day life. If you have hay fever, you will then find yourself coughing, sneezing, experiencing a swollen face, stinging eyes, a sore throat, and generally sore sinuses. Some people also find hay fever makes them feel generally unwell and incredibly tired.

Hay fever is exceptionally common but that doesn't make it any less annoying or painful. If you are busy working or studying a nurse practitioner doctorate degree, you won't have time to be slowed down by these tiresome seasonal allergies. Here is what you can do to beat hay fever this summer.

Drink Lots of Water

Water is a bit of a miracle cure. It helps your body in so many different ways. Staying well hydrated is one of the best ways to fight off any bug and make yourself feel better. Aim for eight glasses a day but remember, fruit juice also counts.

Use a Nasal Spray

It's the pollen getting into your nose that is causing most of your symptoms, so use a special hay fever nasal spray to keep your airways clear, flush out the pollen and make it harder for any more to get in. Other ways to stop pollen entering your body are wearing wide sunglasses to protect your eyes, and rubbing a little Vaseline around the end your nose, to catch the tiny pollen particles before they get in.

The best way to stop pollen getting in is to stay inside. So, try to do this as much as possible on high pollen days and be sure to protect yourself when you do need to go out.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are a medication used to prevent or reduce the symptoms of allergies. In the case of hay fever, your body thinks pollen is a threat because you are allergic and releases a chemical called histamine. This is what causes all your symptoms. Antihistamines stop this from happening.

Eat Right

Some foods have great allergy fighting properties. The best include:

• Onions
• Oily Fish
• Apples
• Pineapple
• Broccoli
• Garlic

• Tomatoes
• Kiwi

Clear it Out

When you are suffering it's important to make sure you have as little exposure to pollen as possible. One easy way to do this is to literally wash it away. Throughout the day regularly blow your nose and then wash your face and hands. Shower and wash your hair before bed each night, and change your bed sheets, especially your pillow cases, every few days.

While these tips will help to reduce your symptoms and make the condition much more manageable, it is unlikely they will beat it all together. If you would like to learn more about how allergies like hay fever affect the body, consider a healthcare course such as a DNP entry for nurse practitioners.