With Spring the official spring start date in the Northern Hemisphere will begin on
Sunday 20 March, means we will soon see plants budding and blooming with new life. Therefore if you get seasonal allergies, it can also mean your allergy symptoms will be coming back to life once again.
Seasonal allergies — also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis — are a reaction to pollen, the yellowish powder that we often see building up on our cars in the spring.
Why so soon?
With climate change continuing to impact our planet, it has led to earlier and longer pollen seasons in some parts of the UK. With these warmer weather condition, comes more pollen in the air as early as February. Some studies have even stated the pollen season to have increased by 27 days since 1995. That could mean a whole month more of symptoms and "suffering" since these warmer temperatures create more airborne pollen, stronger airborne allergens, and even more allergy symptoms.
Why do your symptoms vary
There are many factors, both differences in pollen count and how much time you’ve spent outdoors could expose you to more pollen. Factors not directly related to your allergy could play a role as well, including air quality, pollution, and weather changes, which can worsen your nasal symptoms.
There is also connection with our immune systems and that a changing immune system could also worsen allergy symptoms. Therefore the pandemic could be inducing changes to how you response to allergens. One thing to note is that this could go either way, with your symptoms become better or worse once you stop wearing a face mask for COVID-19.
Take control of your allergy symptoms
There’s no reason to suffer, with the extensive armoury of opver the counter and prescibable treatments. available. Helping you to both feel better and even prevent symptoms from occurring in the first place.
There are 2 steps to treating allergies;
Avoidance
While you can’t completely avoid pollen, you can minimize your exposure by keeping windows closed in your home and car. Therefore reduce the pollen burden imposed on your body = reduced symptoms.
Medication
Nasal spray and antihistamines can give you relief from your symptoms. Most can be purchased without a prescription from a local pharmacy.
If sufficient control/ relief is not found with these over the counter remedies. It might be worth a visit to your GP or local allergy prescribing clinic, who can prescribing stronger oral, topical and nasal anti histamines/ steroids to provide a higher level of cover. With the final option of a intramuscular steroid injection to provide a high level of immunomodulation to reduce the signs and symptoms of allergies.
Still no relief?
You can also get specialist professional help from an allergist, who can help you identify what you’re allergic to through skin or blood tests and create a treatment plan specific to your requirements
See how GRB Health can help you
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