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Hay fever or a cold? How can you tell?

Thursday 16th March 2023

Pollen is released from different plants at different times of the year. Knowing when your symptoms occur can help you identify the likely trigger. Hay fever is the most common seasonal sensitivity. Hay fever symptoms can be experienced all year and may be confused with a cold. They can also trigger more severe conditions such as asthma, cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. Other allergy symptoms may include;

  • frequent bouts of sneezing
  • runny, itchy or blocked nose
  • watery, itchy red or sore eyes
  • itchy sore throat and tongue
  • headache and loss of concentration

Pollen may be from trees, grasses and weeds with increase in symptoms coinciding with the flowering of these plants. Trees can cause symptoms during spring, grasses in the summer, with weeds and mould spores prevalent during autumn and winter. Dust mites can also trigger hayfever type symptoms, and if you have a problem all year round these could be the culprits.
Pollen and mould spores are airborne allergens that are blown into contact with the eyes, nose and lungs where they cause symptoms in sensitive people. Plants that cause hayfever are usually those producing vast quantities of pollen and use the wind for pollination. Generally, insect pollinated plants do not contribute to hayfever.

Acting early in the season can mean you may suffer fewer symptoms and suffer less misery.

Avoid areas of long grass during the summer months, keep windows closed midmorning, late afternoon and early evening when the pollen counts are highest, keep car windows closed when driving - check whether your car has a pollen filter and whether it needs replacing, wear glasses to reduce contact of pollen with the eyes, check pollen counts broadcast on the TV, radio or online before going out for the day and take avoidance action. Your pharmacist can advise on suitable medications which are available without prescription such as antihistamines, decongestants and anti-inflammatory nasal sprays and eye drops.

The SELFCHECK ALLERGY test is a general self-test for allergy susceptibility that shows whether your allergy antibody levels, known as Immunoglobulin E (IgE), are high or in the normal range. People with high or very high levels of IgE antibodies have an increased tendency to have more severe allergies to various allergens. If you have allergy symptoms then you can ask your doctor for specific blood tests or skin prick tests to identify the likely allergens that are responsible for triggering your symptoms. A significant proportion of people with allergies will have a total IgE level in the normal range, so it is important to speak with your doctor if you have symptoms, even if your IgE levels are low.

Most common allergies can be diagnosed by your doctor through a review of your clinical history without the need for tests.

Find out more about the SELFCHECK range of health screening tests at selfchecktests.com