Clincal nurse specialist, Amena Warner
13 May 2011
A specialist in allergies at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals is encouraging local hay fever sufferers to be prepared for a long summer, as early signs show that the season ahead could be harder than usual for people who are intolerant to pollen.
After one of the warmest and driest Aprils on record, it’s not just the mercury that’s hitting high levels – the pollen count is too, leaving many local hay fever sufferers feeling groggy, itchy and uncomfortable.
Clinical nurse specialist in immunology, Amena Warner, said: "Hay fever is truly unpleasant, and is unfortunately, very common. For most people it means itchy eyes and ears, a runny nose, and uncontrollable sneezing. It can also make people feel lethargic and really under the weather.
"For hay fever sufferers, spring and summer can be a miserable time, and instead of being out enjoying the sunshine, people stay inside to avoid their symptoms. But hay fever doesn’t have to be the end of summer fun – whether you have mild to moderate symptoms or have a severe case, there are treatments and things you can do to help alleviate it. I would urge anyone with hay fever to seek advice from their local pharmacist – you don’t have to suffer in silence. Hay fever can be beaten.
"And even if your hay fever can’t be helped by over-the-counter medicines, we can still do something about it. We are one of the few NHS trusts nationally that offers a range of desensitisation therapies (where sufferers are exposed to pollen in a controlled way, so that they become tolerant to it) for people with severe pollen allergy and pollen induced asthma."
Hay fever occurs when the immune system mistakes pollen for a harmful substance, causing the body's cells to release histamines (chemicals which inflame the lining of the nose, throat and eyes).
But even a change in the weather might not be good news for a hay fever sufferer. Amena explained: "During the summer months, we see a lot of people in our accident and emergency departments with a condition known as ‘thunderstorm asthma’. Thunderstorms and heavy rain disrupts the air and can fracture pollen particles into smaller pieces, which effectively multiplies them and can cause serious reactions."
And it’s not just people’s health that hay fever can affect. "Studies show that hay fever is really disruptive for younger people and as it coincides with exams and revision, it can have a dramatic effect on the grades people achieve", said Amena. "It’s therefore really important that as soon as you spot the symptoms you seek health advice from a pharmacist and, if that doesn’t work, make an appointment to see your GP."
