When spring hits and instead of enjoying flowery fields and sunshine you’re hit with a runny nose and itchy eyes, you may feel frustrated. Jenna Cormack, Pharmacist at Priceline Pharmacy, knows the feeling all too well.
“Hay fever can be debilitating. I suffer from bad allergies, and if we're having a high pollen count day, I can't think straight. I can’t open my eyes,” she says.
And she’s not alone: around 19% of Australians experience allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, reports the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. As the climate changes, pollen seasons are becoming longer and pollen is becoming more potent, reports the ABC. Researchers from Queensland University of Technology predict that the number of Australians experiencing hay fever will grow 70% by 2050 as a result.
Hay fever symptoms
Aside from difficulty concentrating and swollen eyes, symptoms may include:
- Sneezing
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Runny, itchy or congested nose
- Post-nasal drip
- Feeling like you have a cold that won’t go away.
Hay fever is caused by pollens (grasses, weeds or trees), dust mites, mould and animal dander, reports the Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. It can occur at any time of the year, but it’s more common in spring when pollens are at their peak.
Reducing the impact
Jenna says that pharmacists are your first point of call for your spring allergies.
“We're highly accessible healthcare professionals. You can walk into any pharmacy or pick up your phone and there’s someone readily available to give you advice right when you need it.”
When customers ask her about allergies, the first thing Jenna recommends is to try and identify your triggers and reduce exposure to them.
So, if you know it’s pollen, “try and reduce time outside on high pollen days”, she says. Check your local pollen count at Pollen Forecast.
She also recommends you:
- Keep doors and windows closed
- Clean your house regularly, including vacuuming
- Wash your bedding regularly
- Clean air conditioning filters
- Don’t dry clothes and bedding outside on high pollen days
- Shower after being outside.
“Give your nose a big washout with saline to clear those allergens. Then any treatments you use are going to be much more effective,” she says.
There are also a range of over-the-counter medications that can help, from nasal sprays and eye drops to antihistamines. For tailored advice, speak to your local pharmacist or a doctor.
“Speak with a pharmacist and go through your main symptoms,” says Jenna. “We can recommend treatments tailored to specific symptoms or areas. It depends on the severity of symptoms and what’s bothering you the most. The pharmacist can figure out what might give you the best, most effective results so you can get back on with your life.”
If your allergies have hit you hard and you need to take some time off, certain pharmacists can even provide absence from work certificates when you need them (terms and conditions apply).
These are just some of the many “above and beyond” services that Priceline now provides, explains Jenna, including medication reviews, vaccinations, and free Health Check stations that measure your blood pressure, heart rate and more.
If you’re experiencing hay fever symptom this spring, find out more or book a consultation with a Priceline pharmacist here.
At Prevention, we only collaborate with trusted brands. To bring you this article we have partnered with Priceline Pharmacy.
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