Galway Advertiser 2006/2006_07_06/GA_0607_E1_016.pdf 

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Galway Advertiser

July 6 2006

NEWS

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FASHION

BEAUTY

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H E A LT H

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LIFE

MARY O'CONNOR Getting to grips with hayfever
Avoid taking holidays in the heart of the countryside. Instead, try coastal areas where the air tends to be more pollen-free

If you suffer from hayfever then you know just how uncomfortable this condition can be. While others are enjoying the sun, you are battling to keep the sneezes at bay. There's also the red nose and itchy, streaming eyes to contend with, not to mention the endless enquiries from wellmeaning people who think you are coming down with something contagious. An inflammatory condition of the nose caused by an allergy to pollen, it affects about 15

per cent of the population and is most prevalent from May until September. The telltale signs include sneezing, streaming eyes, a runny nose and a feeling of being puffed-up. This is caused by a chemical called histamine which the body produces when it absorbs pollen from the atmosphere. Many sufferers also experience a range of less obvious symptoms including being blockedup, irritable, congested, groggy and tired.

Hayfever appears to affect more people nowadays than in the past. Experts say the reason for this is unclear. It may be due to increased air pollution and a greater sulphur dioxide content which would explain why there is a higher incidence of it in urban populations. Global warming also affects it by extending the length of the season.

How can you help yourself?
* Try not to go outdoors when pollen counts are high, especially in the early evening * Keep the windows shut especially at night * Head to the coast for holidays where levels are lower can occur at any stage. It can be inherited and it is not unusual for several members of the same family to be affected. Sufferers are more likely to develop it if they were born slightly before or during a pollen season. Males appear to be more prone than females. It is commonest among young people and generally starts when they are in their teenage years. Symptoms tend to get worse over the first two to three seasons then remaining steady for the next 20 to 30 years. The highest pollen counts are on hot sunny days with light winds and no rain. On overcast days they are low. Country counts are generally four to five times higher than urban ones. The count is always low early in the morning. In towns and cities during the morning the count reaches moderate at most. The peak count for these areas is between 6pm and midnight. The larger the city and the hotter the day, the later the peak. In grassy rural areas however, the count may be temporarily high around mid-morning but will peak between 4 and 7pm. Research carried out in Britain suggests that people living in towns and cities are twice as likely to suffer from the condition as those in the countryside even though pollen levels are far lower. Scientists believe the most likely cause is the nitrogen dioxide gases found in car exhaust fumes and diesel particles. Generally, wind pollinated plants, such as grasses, trees and stinging nettles are responsible for causing hayfever due to the large amount of pollen they release into the atmosphere. * Apply Vaseline to the inside lining of the nose in order to trap pollen * Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen entering the eyes * On hot days high pollen levels can last until the evening in cities * Taking cod liver oil daily may help as it reduces inflammation. Some experts say people should avoid alcohol, nicotine, chocolate, spices, coffee and tea * Drinking a herbal tea or a honey and lemon drink may be beneficial, too. * Ensure that your intake of vitamins, minerals and trace elements is adequate. Eat foods high in the vitamin B complexes, manganese, chromium and iron. Plenty of garlic is good, also. * Aromatherapy oils such as eucalyptus or olbas can be used in a candle burner while scented candles may also improve the air quality * Avoid taking holidays in the heart of the countryside. Instead, try coastal areas where the air tends to be more pollen-free * It is best to garden on cold or dull days, or immediately after or during rain. Grass flowers do not open on dull wet days and rain washes pollen out of the atmosphere. * Keep track of the pollen count and avoid areas of high pollen concentration * Keep your grass cut short * Fit net curtains * Avoid smoky rooms and town centres as much as possible because polluted air traps pollen * Shower and shampoo before bed * Damp dust surfaces and either mop floors every day or use a vacuum cleaner with an efficient filter * Stay away from grassy areas, especially on warm days * Regular weeding is recommended to control potentially problematic plants * On dry, sunny days a fan, rather than open windows, can be used to circulate air and keep cool * Keep car windows closed when the grass is being cut * Don't grow allergenic plants. Ask your garden centre about this * Air bedclothes in direct sunlight * Use an air filter when possible to remove pollen and other allergens from the air * A pollen count of 50 or above will generally be expected to result in symptoms. But some may experience symptoms when counts are as low as 10. * Avoid unnecessary irritants such as smoke and chemical fumes

Inherited condition
While the condition tends to strike early in life, it

What are the main symptoms of hayfever?
The more obvious and uncomfortable symptoms include sneezing, itchy nose, and often ears and throat, watery, inflamed eyes, runny nose and a feeling of being puffed-up. However, many sufferers also experience a range of less obvious symptoms. These include dark circles under the eyes due to inflammation of the sinuses, loss of a sense of smell, a blocked-up feeling, irritability, congestion, grogginess and tiredness. Some may have difficulty sleeping and their concentration may be impaired. Hayfever symptoms may mimic those of the common cold and are often confused with that.

What treatments are available?
* Antihistamines treat sneezing, itchy nose, throat, etc * Decongestants help relieve congestion * Nasal sprays deal with sneezing, itchy, runny nose and eyes as well as congestion and the other less obvious symptoms

Hayfever affects about 15 per cent of the population and is most prevalent from May until September.