With the first day of Summer on the horizon, we’re looking forward to picnics and barbecues on the grass and taking long walks in the countryside. But for some, that might also mean stocking up on the antihistamines and avoiding the outdoors at any given opportunity.
We don’t want you to miss out on the best parts of summer! Here at TMI Testing, our intolerance testing methods will help you to identify exactly which pollens you’re having a reaction to.
Did you know that pollen count is at its highest in March and September, and this is when your hay fever symptoms will be at their worst. If you’re not sure if you have hay fever, a few of the symptoms typically include sneezing and coughing, runny or blocked nose, and itchy or watery eyes.
If you’re already planning a summer barbecue, then as a hay fever sufferer, you should know that a combination of smoke (which can make your symptoms worse) and being outside will result in your symptoms rearing their ugly head. Although there’s no cure for hay fever, and you can’t prevent it from happening, there are things you can do to ease your symptoms during the upcoming months:
- Put Vaseline around your nostrils – this will trap the pollen
- Wear sunglasses when you’re outside to stop the pollen from getting into your eyes
- Speak to your pharmacist and purchase antihistamines, nasal sprays and lots of tissues
The most important tip is to make sure you’re prepared. If you’ve suffered from hay fever in the past then you will firstly need to identify exactly which pollen you’re intolerant to. Our intolerance testing methods will help you to understand this further, however if your hay fever starts early, this is most likely due to a reaction to tree pollen. Grass and weed pollens will trigger your symptoms later on in the year – so after taking a test, you’ll be able to determine which time of year you will need to be prepared for.
If your over-the-counter antihistamines aren’t doing the job. This is the time where you should seek advice from your GP. They may be able to prescribe any other medications that will help with your symptoms.
If you’ve been feeling any of the above symptoms and want to clarify whether you have a pollen intolerance, a TMI Testing intolerance test will help give you a better understanding.
