Dr Christian Jessen: Atishoo! Yes, I’m not the only hay fever sufferer
I never used to get hay fever but at 25 it finally hit me. It’s birch tree pollen that I am allergic to — one of the first pollens to come out in spring — and I now have full sympathy for other sufferers. Especially because, despite my medical knowledge, I still haven’t managed to find a way to ease my own problems.
Treatment needs to start before symptoms even appear, which means using pills and nasal sprays before the problem pollen is released. This year, though, birch tree pollen appeared earlier than usual, due to a mild March, and caught many of us sufferers by surprise.
In fact, hay fever is estimated to affect about 20 per cent of the population, and the symptoms — itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and wheezing — are caused by the release of histamine, which irritates the upper respiratory passages, making them swell. The mainstays of treatment are antihistamines, but they are only effective if taken regularly, before any histamine release is actually triggered by pollen.
The first mistake most people make is only buying a packet of antihistamines once the itching has got quite bad. The second is relying on antihistamines alone. Combination therapy is best, so hit hay fever with everything available — antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops. Some doctors will give their patients a steroid injection before the hay fever starts, which can reduce symptoms but isn’t suitable for the long term.
For those who find these treatments don’t seem to have any effect, there are various immunotherapies available. Injecting small amounts of the allergy-causing substance can create tolerance and help stop the immune system producing too much histamine when it encounters that substance. There is also an oral grass pollen extract available, which needs to be taken daily, starting four months before the pollen season and continuing for up to three years.
And the final tip: alcohol makes hay fever symptoms much worse. Beer and wine contain histamine, and drinking will simply add to your misery. If you can abstain for the hay fever season, you will benefit in many ways.
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