If your symptoms are caused by hayfever, avoiding pollen whenever possible can help relieve them
Reducing your exposure to pollen
If your symptoms are caused by hayfever, avoiding pollen whenever possible can help relieve them. Keep an eye on the pollen forecast
and plan any outdoor excursions for when pollen levels are low. When you go outside, rub a little petroleum jelly inside your nostrils or ask your pharmacist about nasal barrier balms that do the same job. This can help prevent you breathing in pollen through your nose. Also wear a good pair of sunglasses
– wraparound styles are best – to stop pollen getting into your eyes. Wearing a hat with a peak or a large brim can help keep pollen away from your eyes and face too. When you return home after being
outside, shower and change your clothes as soon as you can. This can help remove any pollen you may have picked up on your skin, hair or clothing. Keeping your windows and doors shut whenever you’re at home and the pollen count is high may help too.
• Sinus headache • High temperature of 38C or above • Toothache • Bad breath
Sinusitis usually clears up within two to three weeks, says the NHS. But chronic sinusitis can last for three months or longer. Mild sinusitis doesn’t usually
need any professional treatment. Ask your local Careway pharmacist about medicines that can help.
Nasal polyps Nasal polyps are painless soft growths inside your nose that aren’t usually serious – though if they keep growing they can block your nose or your sinuses. Nobody really knows what causes them, but you may be more likely to develop them if you have asthma. According to the NHS, the symptoms of nasal polyps include:
Over-the-counter relief
Avoiding your exposure to pollen can go a long way to prevent hayfever symptoms. But it may not be possible to avoid coming into contact with pollen altogether. So stock up on over-the-counter allergy relief medicines before your symptoms start. Your local Careway pharmacist can help you choose the medicines that may work best for you, such as:
Antihistamines Available in tablet form as well as in nasal sprays and eye drops, antihistamine medicines are usually effective at treating itching, sneezing and watery eyes.
Steroid nasal sprays and drops These work by reducing inflammation, and are thought to be more effective than antihistamine tablets at preventing and relieving nasal symptoms.
Sodium cromoglicate eye drops These drops are widely used for eye symptoms.
Nasal saline washes Drug-free sprays and drops that may help relieve nasal congestion. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a product that may help remove pollen particles from your nose after being outdoors.
Whichever allergy relief products you use, always ask your pharmacist for information on how to take them safely. Find your nearest Careway pharmacy at
www.careway.co.uk/find-a-pharmacy.
All About health 13
• Blocked nose • Runny nose
• Constant need to swallow (post- nasal drip)
• Reduced sense of smell or taste • Nosebleeds • Snoring
Your GP can diagnose nasal polyps and offer drops or a spray to shrink them. Also ask your pharmacist to recommend an over-the-counter steroid nasal spray or a saline rinse to help unblock your nose.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
