The 2008 Hayfever Season
Grass Pollen Monitoring at the Ipswich Hospital
National grass pollen counting will start throughout the UK this year on Monday 19th May 2008. Ipswich will once again be gathering its own air samples to provide data for the local community and contribute to the national pollen forecasts given out by the media.
Each weekday morning the local magnitude of grass pollen will be reported on the Ipswich Hospital website and intranet as HIGH MEDIUM OR LOW until 1st August 2008. Weekend pollen is also counted if anyone is interested in knowing the level retrospectively, but these readings will not be posted on the web.
This information is for personal use only and not for commercial reproduction. For further information please contact Janette Bartle 01473 703145
Hayfever Advice
Here is a reminder for those of you who suffer with Hayfever on how to prepare yourself and help reduce the severity of your symptoms.
The symptoms of Hayfever can be controlled in two main ways. One is to avoid the allergens and the other is take medication. Some products, such as nasal sprays and eye drops are useful if a person has localised symptoms but antihistamines are the most common form of treatment for multiple symptoms. Certain treatments need to be started before the pollen season begins in order to prevent the onset of symptoms
Advice:
Medication
Start your nasal medication early and take it regularly. Take the medication to suit your symptoms:
- Steroid Nasal Spray treatment should be started two to three weeks before you expect to get symptoms - This will help reduce nasal congestion and blockage
- Take Antihistamine medication regularly, this should be a once a day and a non drowsy form - This will help reduce irritation, sneezing and watery nose and eyes
- Various eye drops are available,such as Sodium Cromoglicate and Antihistamine - again, take before you encounter the pollen and take regularly for best results - This will help reduce irritation and watery eyes
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Ask your Pharmacist. These medications can be bought over the counter at a pharmacy however if you have asthma or any other medical condition and are taking regular medications you should consult with your GP.
If you have tried lots of medications before and they don't seem to work check that you are using them in the correct manner, a nasal spray is very good at reducing inflammation in the nose but only works where it is sprayed, if it bypasses important structures and doesn't reach the area of inflammation, or if you do not take it on a daily basis, it wont work.
If symptoms are still not relieved ask about desensitisation to grass pollen.
Tips on Avoidance
Remember grass pollen levels in the air are at their highest in the morning when the grasses are waking or after a rain fall when it is warm, a windy day will also blow more particle around in the air. In the evening when the air in the higher atmosphere cools this will drop downward brining pollen particles with it causing another rise in the pollen levels. Try not to go out and keep windows shut around these times, including in the car.
Put Vaseline around your nose and eyes, this will trap the pollen which can then be wiped away and prevent the triggering of further symptoms, remember to reapply the Vaseline.
Wear glasses to protect your eyes
When you come indoors from being outside, ideally jump in a shower to wash away any surface pollen, or change your top clothes and damp brush through your hair.
For more information contact
Janette Bartle
Nurse Special Allergy in ENT
ENT Outpatients
Post Bag C348
Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
Heath Road
Ipswich
IP4 5PD
Tel: 01473 703145 |
Click on the above image
to download
our leaflet on
Hayfever |
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