Many people experience hay fever symptoms because of their allergies to grass pollen. In fact, 95% of people who get hay fever are allergic to grass pollen.
For most sufferers the worst months are May to July when grass pollen release is at its peak. Grass pollen appears between May and September and peaks during May and June. “We are already starting to see some early grass pollen,” says airborne allergens expert and creator of HayMax allergen barrier balms, Max Wiseberg, “so now is the time for hay fever sufferers to prepare for the season ahead.”
So why should we start to prepare now? “Many hay fever remedies take time to reach maximum effectiveness,” says Max. “And with early grass pollen already around and warm sunny weather forecast to continue for many areas, the start of the peak grass pollen season could begin at any time.”
“So make sure you have an allergen barrier balm handy, such as HayMax (www.haymax.biz), an organic, drug-free allergen barrier balm that is proven to trap over one third of pollen before it enters the body [1], and starts to work immediately. So if the grass pollen starts to affect you unexpectedly, you have help at hand.”
“If you take antihistamines, then you may need to start taking them now. There are several types to choose from, so it is worth checking in your local pharmacy or online as some are best taken at least one month before the hay fever season starts whilst others need only be taken as symptoms occur.”
“And it is the same with nasal sprays. There are two types of spray. Antihistamine sprays work by blocking the effect of histamine inside your nose, thereby reducing your allergic reaction. Steroid nasal sprays work by fighting inflammation and mucus production, reducing the allergic reaction of your nasal tissues to the inhaled allergen. Both types of spray can need several days to build up to their maximum protective effect.”
“Eye drops may take 3 or 4 days to build up to their maximum protective effect, though some take effect immediately – so again check ahead.”
“A healthy immune system can help reduce the effects of hay fever. There are immune boosting wellness formulae available containing ingredients which have a history of benefits and clinically researched actions to help support the immune system. Again, if you are considering these, you would need to start taking these now, ahead of the hay fever season.”
“What you eat and drink, how well you sleep, whether you take enough regular exercise and so on can affect how much – or how little – you will suffer from hay fever. According to the NHS website, a 2010 study of over 2,000 people with hay fever, conducted by the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit (NPARU), found that lifestyle factors, such as stress and exercise, can have a major impact on hay fever.”
“You should try to do two and a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise every week, such as fast walking, cycling, water aerobics. So if you need to increase the amount of exercise you do, now is the time to start!”
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