Summer is the perfect time of year to grab your swimsuit and head for the beach or to have a barbeque in your back garden.
However, even in your own home, it can be hard to enjoy the warmer weather if you find yourself sneezing excessively, having an itchy throat, or swollen eyes. The underlying cause? It’s often hay fever.
Hay fever is common in the United States and Europe, meaning that more than 19 million people suffer from these symptoms in the Western World. So, if you suffer from seasonal allergies, you may be looking for the most reliable way to treat them to prevent streaming eyes and constant sneezing. This article explores the most popular treatments for it and more, so enjoy.
What Is Hay Fever?
First, it is always good to know exactly what it is that you are dealing with.
Hay fever is regarded in medicine as an allergy, usually to pollen, and is known medically as allergic rhinitis. It irritates the nose and, as suggested in the intro, usually peaks in the summer for many people.
The symptoms include a runny nose, feeling congested, sneezing, red and watery eyes, and coughing. These can be managed with medication, such as fexofenadine 120mg, depending on the severity.
Treatment
There are many other ways to manage hay fever without the need to see a doctor, which should only be reserved for extreme cases. Of course, if you feel that none of the over-the-counter methods works, you should seek medical advice.
Antihistamines
Most people have taken antihistamines, especially if they have been bitten by a bug and have an itchy bit mark. Yet, antihistamines like fexofenadine are also great for managing hay fever. However, you will likely want to take a non-drowsy antihistamine, as this is less likely to interfere with your day.
Eye Drops
Is it mainly your eyes that are causing you grief with hay fever? Then it may be best to opt for eye drops.
This will help to keep your eyes lubricated and will reduce the inflammation associated with hay fever. You can get medicated eye drops to treat hay fever, so if you have very bloodshot, sore eyes, you should talk to your doctor or optician.
Air Purifier
Research that was conducted in 2015 into seasonal allergies found that having an air purifier in your home could be beneficial in the treatment of hay fever.
These, as their name suggests, work by cleaning the air and removing pollutants, allergens and any toxins that may be present. Air purifiers have also been found to be beneficial for people who have asthma, and who are also at a higher risk of developing hay fever.
Nasal Rinse
If you find that the main symptom of hay fever is a runny nose, then you will want to prevent excessive rubbing, as this can cause soreness. So, why not try a saline nasal rinse? This will restore the moisture lost in the nasal canals and will also reduce the inflammation that accompanies hay fever and the associated sneezing.
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