With snow settling on the hills again only this week, thoughts of seasonal illness are still more focused on winter coughs and colds – even at the end of May. And while Scots are looking forward to the arrival of some real summer weather, there is bad news for hayfever sufferers now that the grass pollen season is almost here – this time of year marks the peak of allergic reaction for 95% of hayfever sufferers and can often last until the end of September.
Unfortunately there is no cure for hayfever but there are a range of things that we can try to minimise our suffering. NHS 24’s health information service, NHS inform, has lots of tips and advice we can follow – from preventative measures to the types of treatments that are available.
NHS 24 Medical Director, Professor George Crooks, says people should try and be prepared for the season: “Most people who suffer with hayfever understand their own allergies and what triggers them. They’ll also know how to minimise the impact of an attack which, although perhaps not serious, can have a huge impact on a person’s quality of life.
“The severity of reactions can change because of all kinds of environmental influences so it’s important that people keep up to date with the Met Office’s pollen count. We have lots of tips available on www.nhsinform.co.uk and I would recommend that people take a look and perhaps try new techniques to help minimise their symptoms.
“It’s always worth reviewing how we minimise an allergic response since, like the things that cause it in the first place, it does change and evolve over time. I know from my own experience as a GP that patients can benefit from a fresh approach to dealing with the annoyance of hayfever to stop it ruining whatever summer we might get.”
Advice that’s not to be sniffed at!
