Protecting your eyes against hay fever symptoms
As the summer months approach, many look forward to the longer days and warmer temperatures. But for many, it marks the start of the hay fever season as many flowers begin to bloom and release their pollen into the air.
Hay fever, medically known as seasonal rhinitis, is an allergic reaction caused by pollen released commonly by grass, flowers and hay. It usually affects sufferers from the beginning of spring, usually around early march, right through to the middle of autumn. Unfortunately the symptoms can appear on a reoccurring basis ever year, but there is some good news for sufferers as it has been noted that in some cases the affliction will eventually stop.
What are the common symptoms of hay fever?
The symptoms of hay fever are the result of the human body's immune system reacting to the pollen it encounters. A natural reaction, the immune system reacts by releasing a chemical called Histamines around the cells lining the eyes and nose. This then causes the commonly associated symptoms of watery eyes and persistent sneezing.
Many may simply suffer from a less severe blocked or runny nose or itchy irritable eyes, a problematic symptom for those sufferers who wear contact lenses. But others may experience asthma-like symptoms, such as breathlessness or wheezing. This can be quite severe if the person is already suffering from asthma, but in some cases it may only occur during the hay fever season.
What can you do to help alleviate hay fever symptoms?
Hay fever can be treated in a number of different ways, both through medical and alternative therapies. Opticians commonly recommend the use of liquid eye drops to help soothe itchy, watering eyes. A visit to your local GP will usually result in them writing a prescription for one of many different types of anti-histamine, which thankfully do not have drowsy side effects.
There also are a number of different ‘alternative' therapies one can undertake if worried about the possible side effects of prolonged use of prescribed anti-histamines. Many local health stores now stock a beeswax balm which you can rub onto your nose to help stop the inhalation of pollen in the air. This can prove to be particularly helpful for those wearing glasses, as it reduces the possibility of itchy eyes when out and about.
As with any affliction, using these different types of remedies can prove beneficial for those hay fever sufferers, allowing them to go about their day in a normal way without having to worry about suffering from the symptoms commonly caused when suffering from hay fever.
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