DON’T LET HAY FEVER DRIVE YOU ROUND THE BEND

By Airborne Allergens Expert, Max Wiseberg

Driving while suffering from symptoms of hay fever could land you with a £1,000 fine. Sneezing at the wheel means that your eyes could be closed for several seconds, potentially making it very dangerous. Vehicle leasing company, All Car Leasing, highlighted the fact that a driver will take their eye off the road for two seconds, resulting in driving 155 feet with their eyes closed if driving at 70 mph[1]. Plus certain antihistamines can also leave you feeling drowsy and impair your ability to drive safely. Here’s what you can do to help…

Police can charge drivers who have taken strong hay fever medication. Many people take anti-histamines to cope with their hay fever. But when you realise that histamines, as well as being the nasty things that cause the horrible symptoms of hay fever, are also very useful things the brain needs to keep us alert, attentive and awake – it becomes clear why they can make you drowsy, and that driving whilst taking anti histamines might not be such a good idea.

Although the little information leaflet in the box of tablets contains a clear warning about driving whilst taking antihistamines, most people ignore it or don’t even read it in the first place.

Those drivers looking for a drug-free option with some real science behind it are starting to turn to a non-drowsy organic drug-free allergen barrier balm called HayMax (www.haymax.biz). Just a small amount applied around the rim of the nostrils and the bones of the eyes (but not in the eyes), before your journey, can help. HayMax has been proven in independent studies to trap all types of pollen, as well as dust and pet allergens, before they enter the body [2], [3].

It’s advisable to change your car’s pollen filter at least every 12 months or every 5,000 miles if you drive daily or live in an area with a high pollen count. It’s especially important for hay fever sufferers, as these filters can become clogged up with pollen and can affect you all year round.

Check the pollen count before your journey, bearing in mind that pollen levels are highest in the morning and evening. If the pollen counts are predicted to be high consider alternative travel plans or ask someone else to drive.

Clean the interior of your car regularly using a vacuum cleaner and damp dust the dashboard, to avoid a build-up of pollen that could trigger hay fever symptoms.

Drive with the windows closed and your air conditioning on, so that pollen is not blown into your vehicle.

Wearing wraparound sun glasses will help keep pollen from getting into your eyes, reducing watery eyes and other hay fever symptoms.