How to Treat Hayfever

Pollen released from certain plants and trees is the culprit behind hayfever. People can suffer from hayfever at any time during the year, but it is especially bad when these plants and trees are flowering. Allergic reactions to pollen can lead to coughing, runny nose, red eyes and difficulty breathing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Over the counter medications
• Prescription medications

Treat Hayfever Effectively

1. Start out with an accurate diagnosis of hayfever. Many conditions, including related allergies, have similar symptoms. The only way to treat hayfever effectively is to known for certain that you are in fact suffering from hayfever.
2. Use over the counter medications to treat hayfever. Most over the counter drugs are effective for short term relief of hayfever. Antihistamines are the usual treatment and can provide short term relief from sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and wheezing.
3. Install a pollen filter in your home and car. Hayfever is caused by tiny pollen particles in the air that you inhale and that cause an allergic reaction. Puravent sells high quality pollen filters and this is an excellent way to treat hayfever (see Resources below).
4. Ask your doctor if prescription medications are right for you. Sometimes over the counter drugs are not strong enough and they do not provide long term treatment. If your symptoms do not get better and you've been using over the counter medications for more than two weeks, you need to see a doctor.
5. Try using a non-steroid nasal spray. This is an effective short term reliever during the height of hayfever season. Spray each nostril at the start of your day and then once again if symptoms worsen throughout the day.
6. Stay indoors as much as you can during the height of hayfever season. Unfortunately, this coincides with the warm spring and summer months when most of us would like to be outside enjoying nature.
7. Stay off the grass. Grasses are the number one cause of hayfever. It is the abundance of grass and its wind pollinated nature that contribute to the prevalence of hayfever.

Tips & Warnings

• Only wind-pollinated plants cause hayfever. Insect-pollinated plants do not. Thus, the most common cause of hayfever is grass.
• Do not use over the counter remedies and nasal sprays for longer than three months. Talk to your doctor right away if your symptoms do not clear up.

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