When should I start taking hay fever tablets?

Springing into allergy season

Spring is officially upon us once again, bringing the promise of brighter, longer days spent among blooming flowers and lush greenery. While this thought brings a smile to most faces, for those with hay fever spring also marks the beginning of allergy season.

What is hay fever?

"Hay fever is a very common allergy that affects 10-15% of children and 26% of adults in the UK," says specialist allergy nurse Margaret Kelman at Allergy UK. "It is a seasonal form of allergic rhinitis, where the nose lining becomes inflamed."

This happens in certain people who have an over-sensitivity to pollen - the fine powder made by flowers, plants, or trees that can drift through the air in high quantities during spring and summer. In people with hay fever, pollen is an allergen that triggers an immune system response, where cells lining the nose and eyes release chemicals to fight what the body perceives as a threatening foreign substance.

Common hay fever symptoms

It is this immune response that causes the symptoms of hay fever that irritate and inconvenience so many people each year. "The main areas affected are the nose, throat, and eyes as these are connected by the same tubes," adds Kelman.

• Runny nose.
• Itchy nose.
• Blocked nose.
• Itchy throat.
• Itchy eyes.
• Watery eyes.
• Sneezing.
• Asthma symptoms such as breathlessness and wheezing - for people with asthma, hay fever season can make symptoms worse.

When does hay fever start?

You may find that you experience hay fever at different times than others. This is because there are three types of pollen that peak at different times over the summer months. You could be allergic to one, two, or all three pollen types if you're really unlucky.

According to Kelman, these pollen seasons can vary from one year to the next depending on the weather. However, she outlines the general time frames:

Why are hay fever tablets important?

Of course, the most effective way to avoid hay fever would be to avoid being outside and around pollen. However, it is almost impossible to avoid pollen totally and no one wants to be cooped up inside for weeks on end.

What you can do is keep track of the pollen count during these months. With TV, radio, and newspaper coverage this is relatively easy to do over spring and summer. You can also check the current pollen forecast. A pollen count of over 50 is considered high.

Hay fever tablets are a common, fast-acting, and highly effective option for treating most hay fever symptoms. Hay fever tablets are antihistamines, working by blocking the chain reaction that happens when your body releases the chemical 'histamine' as part of its symptom-inducing immune response to pollen.

Kelman describes the benefits of hay fever tablets:

Improved quality of life

People with allergic rhinitis such as hay fever report that symptoms cause significant disruptions to their daily lives. Hay fever tablets can improve outcomes relating to sleep, tiredness, irritability, and a range of practical problems.

Protection against infection

"Untreated allergic rhinitis such as hay fever can also result in the mucus in the nose stagnating. This can lead to infection."

Protection against asthma

"If you have asthma, not treating hay fever can make your condition worse. What's more, hay fever is also a risk factor for developing asthma when pollen is inhaled into the lungs."

• More than 40% of patients with allergic rhinitis have asthma.
• Over 80% of people with asthma also suffer from allergic rhinitis.

When should you start taking hay fever tablets?

While hay fever tablets can be used for immediate symptom relief, they are also an effective pre-treatment. If you are a seasoned hay fever sufferer and know the time of year your symptoms kick in, start taking hay fever tablets early. "Taking hay fever tablets every day for one to two weeks before the season starts is ideal, although for some people this isn’t always easy to predict," says Kelman.

This is because once your allergic reaction to pollen starts, it's harder to stop. A chain reaction occurs where more inflammatory cells are sent to your nose where the pollen lodges, causing your symptoms to become more severe.

By starting antihistamines such as hay fever tablets a few weeks early, you can effectively block this reaction before it begins. For some people, this may prevent symptoms entirely. For others, it at least limits irritation and could help to prevent an asthma flare-up.

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When are hay fever tablets the right choice?

"As hay fever tablets are antihistamines, they can both prevent and ease itchiness and runny symptoms in your nose, eyes, and throat. However, they are unable to treat congestion (a blocked and stuffy nose and sinuses). For this, you'll need to use a steroid nasal spray," advises Kelman.

Many steroid nasal sprays are available over-the-counter. They work best when treatment is started ahead of hay fever season - around four weeks in advance - to allow time for the cells to turn off the chemicals that trigger inflammation.

There are several other forms of hay fever medication, including syrups, eye drops, antihistamine sprays and (in very severe cases), injections,. "It's always worth asking your pharmacist what they recommend for your symptoms and allergy level, especially if over-the-counter hay fever tablets aren’t working within a few days of regular use," adds Kelman.