Hay Fever - Woodlands Health Center

Hay fever is a common allergy that causes sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes. You cannot cure it, but there are things you can do to help your symptoms, or medicines you can take to help.

Non-urgent advice: Symptoms

Symptoms of hay fever include:

– Sneezing and coughing
– A runny or blocked nose
– Itchy, red or watery eyes
– Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
– Loss of smell
– Pain around the sides of your head and your forehead
– Headache
– Feeling tired

Non-urgent advice: What Should I do?

Put petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) around your nostrils to trap pollen

Wear wrap-around sunglasses, a mask or a wide-brimmed hat to stop pollen getting into your nose and eyes

Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off

Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible

Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth

Try to use a pollen filter in the air vents of your car, if you have one, and a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner

Non-urgent advice: What shouldn’t I do?

Do not cut grass or walk on grass

Do not spend too much time outside

Do not keep fresh flowers in the house

Do not smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse

Do not dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen

Do not let pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen indoors

Non-urgent advice: Medication

Antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays

Steroid nasal sprays

Kenalog Vaccine can also help. Please speak to us to book yourself in!