ADE WILLIAMS – JULY v2.qxp_Layout 7 22/06/2022 15:00 Page 1
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Fight the fever Ade Williams MBE, lead pharmacist at Bedminster Pharmacy and brilliant Bristol ambassador shares his knowledge on how best to curb your hay fever symtoms this summer...
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ay fever symptoms can turn warmer, sunnier weather into a siege. What is normally an uplifting and funfilled season with lots of opportunities for exploring the great outdoors and socialising in serene green spaces, can be spent seeking effective relief from the dreaded pollen. So, how can one win this battle using the most effective strategies and treatments available? Is honey the sweet remedy we need? An ever-increasing number of Bristolians (1 in 4), including children, are suffering from common hay fever symptoms. These include: sneezing, having a runny nose, itchy eyes and throat, blocked and painful sinuses – which can even result in headaches and shortness of breath. Hay fever is mainly an allergic reaction to pollen, and the resulting symptoms stem from the body’s immune response. However, it can also be triggered by other allergens such as dust mites, animals’ saliva and their shedded skin particles. Grass pollen is the most common trigger (May to July), but tree pollen (February to June) and weed pollen (June to September) can also cause the allergic reaction. Where the allergic symptoms continue all year round, they usually relate to indoor allergens, such as house dust mites, pets, including birds, and moulds. A warmer UK climate and a rise in air pollution is not good news for hay fever sufferers. What’s more, like me, you can suffer from a combination of different types of pollen allergies, in addition to indoor triggers. Hay fever negatively impacts one’s quality of life, concentration and productivity as it results in days off school and work, sleep deprivation and tiredness – a loss of about £300 million to the UK economy every year. The distress caused by the condition may even cause people to seek help in the wrong places – GP practices and even A&E departments. Many people develop hay fever for the first time as adults; most are lifelong sufferers. It usually begins in childhood or teenage years, more common in boys than girls. You are more likely to develop hay fever if you have a family history of allergies, particularly asthma or eczema. Many people swear that a teaspoon of local honey will desensitise you to pollen, saving you from hay fever. This is sadly not true. Scientists have put this to the test to dispel the myth. Bees also don't pollinate grass and trees that cause hay fever; honey is, in fact, rich in heavy, flower-based pollen. The good news is that it is possible to manage hay fever by taking some basic precautions: keep windows closed in homes and cars as much as possible during the pollen season; put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen; wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors to help prevent pollen from getting into the eyes; shower and change clothes after being outside and at night to wash pollen off; avoid drying clothes outdoors when the pollen count is high; vacuum regularly and use an air filter/purifier with a HEPA filter to extract and remove pollen and dust particles; tie hair up and wear a hat when outside to avoid trapping pollen; stay indoors and avoid grassy areas when the pollen count is high. Regarding pollen forecasts – an established feature of the weather forecast, mobile apps are now increasingly available to download. 60 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE
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JULY 2022
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No 212
Ade Williams’ portrait as taken by acclaimed photographer Rankin
These self-care tips will complement the expert advice at your local community pharmacy and the vast array of effective products and medicines on offer – antihistamine tablets, eye drops, nasal drops, sprays, eye and nasal washes – hence why your local pharmacy is the NHS-designated setting for hay fever relief. GP Surgeries and NHS 111 will also offer formal referrals as part of the NHS Community Pharmacy Consultation Service. It is best to start antihistamines and other preventative treatments at least a month before the hay fever season starts. Nevertheless, if you need urgent fast-acting rescue relief, dash into a pharmacy – help is always available... • Follow Ade on Twitter: @adewilliamsnhs; and keep up to date with Bedminster Pharmacy: @bedminsterpharm
