We are in the depths of hay fever season , which typically runs from January and September.
Across the country, pollen counts are rising, noses are running and eyes are watering.
One in five people people in Ireland suffers from hay fever, according to the Asthma Society of Ireland. Even if you have never had it before, you are not immune from the itchy eyes, frequent sneezing and headaches that high pollen levels can bring.
The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, which tracks atmospheric changes for the European Union, has reported that pollen levels were so high across Europe this spring, that even those who never suffered from allergies before have felt the effects this year.
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Dr David O’Connor, assistant professor at the school of chemical sciences in Dublin City University, says climate change has a role to play.
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When temperatures rise, plants start to grow earlier, meaning they release pollen earlier in the year than usual, increasing our likelihood of being exposed to it.
Poorer air quality has an impact too, especially in urban areas.
“Pollen and air quality are kind of interlinked,” he said. This can exacerbate pollen’s effects, making our allergy symptoms worse.
Dr O’Connor notes that, although “your personal threshold” for pollen may never have been exceeded in the past, increasing pollen levels mean you may begin to experience hay fever symptoms.
Whether you are experiencing symptoms for the first time, or consider yourself a hay fever veteran, here are some tips to help you cope this summer.
Plan ahead
Met Éireann delivers a daily pollen forecast service on its website, which projects pollen levels for the next three days.
On days when pollen levels are high, Dr O’Connor advises people to take an antihistamine before they go to bed, so they are prepared for the pollen levels the next day.
Barriers, barriers, barriers
Similar to how you would protect yourself from the sun, you can implement barriers to protect yourself from pollen too.
Dr Simon Bull of Allergy Ireland notes that wraparound sunglasses “literally will block out the pollen and stop your eyes from itching”.
This is important, as itching your eyes can cause more pollen to enter your system from your fingers.
The HSE advises that putting Vaseline around your nostrils can help trap pollen from entering your nose.
If you want to block it even further, “masks do a fantastic job of stopping pollen from getting into your nose or mouth”, Dr O’Connor notes.
Keep your home pollen free
After spending a day outside during peak hay fever season, you can be “literally coated in pollen”, Dr Bull says.
When you return home, take a shower and change your clothes. When washing those clothes, it is best to avoid drying them outside, as pollen will only fall on them again.
Dr O’Connor advises that, if you are feeling hay fever symptoms badly, you should try to dry your clothes in a dryer.
When the pollen count is high, keep the windows and doors of your home closed, especially your bedroom.
Dr Bull notes that when pollen enters a bedroom, it can fall on bedsheets and pillow cases, meaning you can be “directly inhaling it” as you sleep.
As lovely as they may be, if you suffer from hay fever symptoms, try to avoid keeping fresh flowers in the house.
Try some over-the-counter medications
Dr Bull recommends trying a non-sedating antihistamine as the most basic measure to treat your symptoms.
Gentle steroid nasal sprays can provide relief from a runny nose, congestion and sneezing.
Eye drops can help soothe itching, redness and eye watering triggered by pollen.
If you’re really struggling, there are long-term solutions
If over-the-counter measures are not cutting it, there are long-term measures available for patients with aggressive hay fever.
Dr Bull notes that a desensitisation treatment can be prescribed by GPs, which involves taking a small dose of pollen in tablet form for three years to build up a tolerance.
“It’s relatively expensive”, he says, but is on the drug payment scheme which caps spending on approved drugs and medicines at a maximum of €80 per month.
