Hay fever

Hay fever (called ‘allergic rhinitis’ by doctors) can make your life miserable and over-the-counter antihistamines sometimes don't stop it.

Here at Dr Morton’s - the medical helpline^© you can:

• talk to a GMC registered doctor
• get advice and reassurance
• buy our Dr Morton's Prescription^©for hay fever

Hay Fever Symptoms

• Sneezing and runny nose
• Coughing at night
• Red, watering or itchy eyes
• Itchy throat or palate
• Puffy skin and rashes
• Headache

What causes hay fever?

Hay fever is a bit of a misnomer, as it has nothing to do with hay and it does not cause fevers! It is actually caused by a pollen allergy, so ‘allergic rhinitis’ is a better name for the condition. It is a common allergy that affects about 1 in 5 people in the UK, and impacts work, school, exams and social lives. Thankfully, there are treatments available that can help.

When pollen lands on the sensitive membranes which line the nose, eyes and airways, it triggers a chain reaction that causes irritation and swelling.

How do you diagnose hay fever?

Usually you don’t need any formal testing to diagnose hay fever, as a doctor will often be able to tell from the symptoms you report, and how you answer their questions.

However, if you’re not responding to first-line treatments and the cause of your allergy is still unclear, you may require a skin prick test or a blood test to identify what you’re allergic to.

Is hay fever genetic?

Hay fever does tend to run in families. Interestingly, people who suffer from hay fever also commonly suffer from asthma and eczema. This is a phenomenon that doctors call ‘atopy’, as all three conditions are interlinked.

Hay fever treatment

People with hay fever are always advised to keep away from the substance that causes them problems, but if you’re suffering from an allergy to pollen or dust mite, avoiding something that is around you all the time can be extremely difficult.

If this sounds familiar, a type of medication called antihistamine may be very beneficial. You can get brands like Piriton over the counter, but medications like these can cause drowsiness. You may already have tried the over-the-counter medications without any success, but with better antihistamines being available only by prescription, you may need a doctor’s intervention in order to proceed onto the next level of treatment.

Dr Morton's Prescription^©for hay fever contains an excellent antihistamine called Fexofenadine, which has a much lower risk of causing drowsiness than the older types of antihistamine. The pack also contains a nasal spray containing Fluticasone (a steroid) that relieves runny noses by reducing swelling.

Dr Morton's Prescription^©for hay fever and itchy eyes is perfect if you’re experiencing red, itchy, watery eyes as well as other hay fever symptoms, as it contains both the medications in the above pack, as well as Olopatadine antihistamine eye drops to cool and soothe your symptoms.

Unlike many over the counter products, Dr Morton’s Prescriptions contain a whole month’s supply.

Do antihistamines suppress the immune system?

Absolutely not. Antihistamines suppress the production of histamine, but they do not compromise your body’s ability to fight infections.

How do I prevent hay fever?

There are a few things you can do to minimise the impact of hay fever:

• Try to stay indoors as much as possible on days when the pollen count is high.
• Avoid contact with pets who have been outside on high pollen days.
• Keep pets out of your bedroom.
• Wash after going outside on high pollen days – hair is especially good at holding pollen, so wash it with shampoo if you can.
• Minimise soft furnishings in your home, like carpets and throws, as they can collect dust.
• Replace your mattresses and pillows when recommended by the manufacturer, as they also collect dust.
• Use mattress and pillow covers and wash them frequently.
• Avoid irritants like smoke and pollution, as these can make your symptoms worse.

This page was last updated on 30/03/2016