Allergy Awareness

Hayfever is a common allergic reaction to pollen from grasses, trees, weeds and shrubs. Tiny pollen particles come into contact with the lining of the mouth, nose, eyes and throat causing irritation which activates the allergic reaction

lady blowing nose in a background of grass

Hayfever symptoms can worsen depending on the time of year and the type of pollen you are allergic to. Trees tend to release their pollen during March and this continues until early May however grasses release pollen from late May to early August and weeds/certain shrubs release their pollen in the late summer. This means that for particularly unlucky individuals the hayfever season can last from March until October.

The symptoms of hayfever include:

Red, itchy and watery eyes
Frequent sneezing
Blocked or runny nose
Congestion
General feeling of being unwell
Itchy roof of mouth

Hayfever is very common and affects 10-15% of children and 26% of adults in the UK. Although hayfever is often regarded a trivial problem, because the symptoms vary so much from person to person, it can actually significantly affect quality of life.

A 2020 study by Allergy UK and Kleenex® suggests a surge in UK hayfever sufferers over the last few years. Did you know?

Up to 49% of UK population report suffering from hayfever symptoms
Up to 37% of people have developed symptoms for the first time in the last five years

Some people may only experience a mild sniffle during the summer months, whilst others may have more severe symptoms, such as an extremely runny nose, constant sneezing, sore inflamed, itching eyes and/or chronic nasal congestion.

There is no cure for hayfever however in most cases the symptoms can be controlled using over-the-counter medication available from our pharmacist. Antihistamines help with rapid relief of hayfever symptoms like itchy eyes, sneezing and a runny nose. However they’re not good at relieving nasal congestion. Decongestants can provide rapid relief from nasal congestion and eye drops can help relieve sore and inflamed, itching eyes. Using a combination of treatments is a great way to relive all your hayfever symptoms at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am pregnant/breastfeeding. Can I still take the treatments?

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It is important not to start, stop or change your medication before a discussion with your GP or pharmacist. No medicine can be considered absolutely safe in pregnancy. However, the risks to you or your baby of taking a medicine need to be balanced against the risks or consequences of not taking that medication.

As with pregnancy, it’s important to discuss any medication with your GP or pharmacist while you are breastfeeding.

Is it hayfever or a cold?

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Hayfever can run from March to September and affects a number of people, however, cold and flu symptoms are still prevalent. We want to support our customers whether they need relief from cold and flu or allergy symptoms.

Colds and hayfever have some of the same symptoms which can cause confusion. Colds are contagious, hayfever is not. The most important difference is that colds usually don't last longer than 14 days and hayfever can last days to months, as long as there is contact with the allergy trigger.

Symptoms	Cold	Allergy
Cough	Usually	Sometimes
General aches and pains	Sometimes	Never
Tiredness and weakness	Sometimes	Sometimes
Itchy Eyes	Rarely	Usually
Sneezing	Usually	Usually
Sore Throat	Usually	Rarely
Runny Nose	Usually	Usually
Stuffy Nose	Usually	Usually
Fever	Sometimes	Never

People who have never suffered with hayfever before may misjudge the symptoms and feel like they’re suffering with cold and flu symptoms. Our pharmacy team can give you additional support and advice on treatments recommend for you.

Can I take more than one product?

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The body releases the chemical histamine when it believes it is under attack from an allergen, i.e. pollen. Taking an antihistamine can prevent the symptoms of the allergic reaction from happening.

Antihistamines can treat itching, sneezing and watery eyes and can be used either as a required treatment, for example when you notice the first symptoms of hayfever, or as a preventative treatment, for example if you know there is a high pollen count that day.

Antihistamines may not help clearing a blocked nose however using a decongestant, in the form of a nasal spray, can help to alleviate this. Decongestants can help you breathe easier by reducing the swelling of the blood vessels in your nose.

Using eye drops alongside antihistamines can help relieve sore and inflamed, itching eyes.

Using a combination of treatments is a great way to relive all your hayfever symptoms at once.

Prevention v cure

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There is no cure for hayfever however in most cases the symptoms can be controlled using over-the-counter medication available from our pharmacist. Antihistamines can be used either as a required treatment, for example when you notice the first symptoms of hayfever, or as a preventative treatment, for example if you know there is a high pollen count that day.

In a perfect world, the most effective way to manage hayfever would be to avoid contact with pollen. However avoidance is difficult for people with an allergy to substances in the air, particularly during the summer months when you are more likely to spend time outdoors.

To help keep your hayfever under control, you can:

Check weather reports for the pollen count and stay indoors when it's high, if possible
Avoid drying clothes and bedding outside when the pollen count is high
Wear wraparound sunglasses to protect your eyes
Keep doors and windows shut when possible
Shower and change your clothes after being outside
Avoid grassy areas, such as parks and fields, particularly in the early morning, evening or night, when the pollen count is highest
If you have a lawn, try asking someone else to cut the grass for you

The pollen forecast is usually given as:

LOW: Fewer than 30 grains of pollen in every cubic metre of air
MODERATE: 30-49 grains of pollen in every cubic metre of air
HIGH: 50-149 grains of pollen in every cubic metre of air
VERY HIGH: 150 or more grains of pollen in every cubic metre of air