Hay Fever

AHH CHOOO!!!

HAY FEVER SEASON HAS ARRIVED!

Have you found yourself waking up with teary eyes, itchy eyes, runny or itchy nose or maybe with skin irritations and feeling tired?  You may be suffering from Hay fever. 

Did you know that having hay fever is an allergic condition to the environment around us and it affects 30% of people world wide!  

Hay fever can really take over our lives if left untreated.

Hay Fever in Ireland

The pollen released by plants, trees and grasses around this time of year triggers an allergic reaction in hay fever sufferers, leaving us scratching, sneezing, feeling congested and sometimes downright miserable. And while you can't lock yourself in a darkened, airtight room until the end of August, armed with the right information, there are some things you can do to make the sneezing season more bearable.

Hay fever facts

• Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is a common allergic condition.
• Symptoms of hay fever mimic those of chronic colds and include
  • stuffy or runny nose,
  • itchy and watering eyes, and
  • sneezing.
• The best way to treat an allergic condition is to identify the allergic trigger and avoid it.
• Histamine is a key chemical cause of allergic rhinitis and other allergic reactions.

What Can You Do About Hay Fever?

Unfortunately, hay fever has no cure. However, the good news is there are some simple measures that can help you reduce your exposure to pollen and manage symptoms. The following tips will help:

●     Speak to our pharmacists here at Higgins Pharmacy. There are great, low-cost, and highly effective products that can help prevent the symptoms of hay fever from occurring as well as to reduce them when they do occur. Our Pharmacists will be able to recommend the right treatments for you.

●     Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen, preventing it from getting into your nose.

●     Wear sunglasses, ideally the wraparound variety, to stop pollen from getting into your eyes

●     Shower and get changed after being outside.

●     Stay indoors, particularly when the pollen count is high or when your symptoms are bad.

●     When inside, close your doors and windows.

●     Vacuum often and dust with a damp cloth.

●     Buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car.

●     Buy a vacuum cleaner with a special HEPA filter that can trap pollutants, including pollen.

At Higgins Pharmacy, we’re here to help you get control over hay fever. The treatments available include antihistamine drops, tablets, and nasal sprays. Get in touch with us today.

Did you know you can also get exactly the same product in generic version much cheaper than the big brands?  See our price comparison for antihistamines below:

In addition to antihistamines the use of eye drops and nasal sprays can be very effective. Opticrom or Otrivine antistin are very useful for sore or stinging eyes. We also have a preservative free version available in store.

For more information drop into us and speak with a member of our team.