How to respond to hay fever

It has been found that people suffering from hayfever symptoms can reduce them dramatically if they address certain lifestyle factors such as exercise and stress levels. By responding in a positive way to hay fever you can lessen your symptoms. Here’s how:

1. Relax

Look at how you can reduce stress in your life. There has been a connection discovered between the severity of hay fever symptoms and a person’s stress levels. In seven out of ten cases sufferers of hay fever who also experience high levels of stress report that their symptoms seriously impact their life. As stress is reduced hay fever symptoms lessen.

2. Get Fit

Hay fever can also be improved by introducing exercise into your life. Those who exercise regularly tend to have milder hay fever symptoms compared to those that don’t. Try to incorporate thirty minutes of medium intensity aerobic exercise five times a week into your lifestyle. This could be walking quickly or cycling for example. In the peak hay fever season avoid exercising outside when the pollen count is peaking. Opt for a late morning or afternoon if possible or alternatively do something indoors such as swimming.

3. Eat well

Again, those with a healthy balanced diet are less likely to be reaching for the hayfever tablets. By including a balanced and varied diet with vegetables and fruit you can reduce the severity of symptoms. There are however some foods that can make symptoms worse such as melons, bananas and tomatoes.

4. Drink moderately

Cut down on your alcohol unit in the hay fever season. Alcohol can make a person sensitive to pollen and reduce water levels in the body.

5. Sleep well

By getting a good night’s sleep you can also reduce the severity of hay fever symptoms. These measures won’t eliminate hay fever, you’ll still need your hayfever tablets but they have been proven to lessen the discomfort.

Visit the Co-operative Pharmacy for medicines to deal with the symptoms of hayfever.