Hay fever is a common condition affecting a large portion of the population. It is often worse during the spring and summer months when pollen counts are at their highest. At Oakley Medical Practice, we understand how disruptive hay fever can be to your daily life. We are committed to helping you manage your symptoms effectively.

What Causes Hay Fever? 

Hay fever occurs when your immune system overreacts to airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites or mould spores. When these allergens enter your body, your immune system mistakes them as harmful and releases histamines to fight them off. 

When this happens, you will get symptoms commonly associated with hay fever. While pollen is the most common trigger, hay fever can also be triggered year round by indoor allergens. 

Symptoms of Hay Fever

Hay fever symptoms can range from mild to severe and can have an impact on your quality of life. Common symptoms include: 

  • Sneezing: Frequent, uncontrollable sneezing is a common symptom of hay fever. 
  • Nasal congestion: A stuffy or runny nose is often present, making breathing difficult. 
  • Itchy eyes, nose and throat: These areas can become irritated, leading to constant itching. 
  • Watery eyes: Your eyes may become red, swollen and watery. 
  • Fatigue: Persistent can lead to a feeling of exhaustion and difficulty concentrating.

These symptoms can get worse during peak pollen season. This can make outdoor activities or even routine tasks uncomfortable.

How to Manage Your Hay Fever Symptoms

Understanding what triggers your hay fever is important for effective treatment. Here at Oakley Medical Practise, we offer detailed allergy testing to identify the specific allergens responsible for your symptoms. This means you will be able to know your unique triggers, ensuring a more effective management of your symptoms. 

Treatment Options for Hayfever:

To manage your symptoms you may use: 

  • Antihistamines: This medication blocks the effects of histamines, helping to reduce symptoms such as sneezing. 
  • Nasal sprays: Using these can significantly reduce inflammation in your nasal passages, providing long-term relief.
  • Eye drops: These are effective in reducing eye related symptoms such as itching and redness.

If you suffer with persistent symptoms, the hay fever injection is an effective long term treatment. This treatment can lead to lasting relief, reducing the frequency and severity of hay fever symptoms over time.  

Lifestyle: 

Managing hay fever can sometimes need more than just medication. To minimise your exposure to allergen, you should: 

  • Monitor pollen counts: Stay indoors when pollen levels are high, particularly in the mornings and evenings when counts tend to peak. 
  • Improve indoor air quality: Use air purifiers, keep windows closed during high pollen seasons and regularly clean your living space to reduce dust. 

When you do go outside, ensure when you come back inside to shower and change your clothes. This helps remove allergies from your skin, hair and clothes. 

Hay Fever Treatment at Oakley Medical Practice 

If hay fever symptoms are interfering with your daily life, it is important to seek professional medical advice. Over-the-counter treatments may not work for everyone and more tailored approaches can offer significant relief. We offer the hay fever injection, meaning you can have long term relief from symptoms. 

Don’t let hay fever control your life. Contact the team at Oakley Medical Practice to book an appointment. Take the first step towards managing your symptoms with a personalised treatment plan.