The Best Way To Control Your Hayfever Symptoms

There is a wide range of different treatment options to control hay fever symptoms. Nobody likes their spring and summer to be affected by itchy eyes, sneezing and runny noses. When the weather starts to get a bit better, we tend to spend more time outside. This can have many benefits for us and it's a time many people look forward to, however there are a lot of hay fever sufferers that feel spending time outdoors during spring and summer can be a double edged sword.

What Is Hayfever?

Hayfever is an allergic response in your body to the presence of pollen, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis. Typically hay fever is most prevalent from April through the summer months.

What Are The Symptoms of Hayfever?

Hayfever can have many or even just one of the following range of symptoms, some of which are also common with having a cold.

• Runny nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Sneezing
• Sinus pressure

Can I Prevent Hayfever Symptoms From Starting?

There are a range of different treatment types available, depending on the symptoms you would want to treat. Some of these treatments are for use once symptoms appear, but one of the best options is to start using a steroid nasal spray a few weeks before hay fever symptoms usually start.

Steroid nasal sprays are anti-inflammatory medicines that you spray directly into the nose. They can be used to treat a range of conditions including hay fever, sinusitis and nasal polyps.

Some nasal sprays are prescription-only, however, a lot are now available over the counter without prescription. 

Steroid nasal sprays reduce swelling/ inflammation and mucus build up in the nose and usually work very well. As these are sprayed directly into the nose and are absorbed through the nose, they tend to have little effect on the rest of the body. Therefore, they are considered very safe for use and have limited side effects.

Symptoms that steroid nasal sprays can ease include:

• Blocked nose/ congestion 
• Runny nose
• Itchy feeling within the nasal lining 
• Sneezing
• When your nose is cleared, the pressure and pain around your nose and eyes is also reduced.

These sprays can take a few days and up to two weeks to be fully effective, depending on the person. Therefore, for the best relief, it is recommended that hay fever sufferers would start these treatments at least two weeks before the start of peak hay fever season. As hay fever season starts towards the end of March, now is the time to start using a steroid nasal spray!

The key to getting the best relief when using a nasal spray is continuous daily use. While an occasional missed dose is not likely to cause any problems, symptoms will usually return within a few days of repeated missed doses. Usually if symptoms are only associated with hay fever then treatment will last between end of March to approximately September.