Hayfever. Sodding hayfever season is here.
Earlier this week we had a big old moan about
how awful suffering from hayfever can be, but we wouldn't be JOE by just moaning about a problem. We like to try and solve them too.
With a little help from Boots UK pharmacist
Tom Kallis, here are some top tips for beating hayfever, as well as the sleepness nights spent sneezing can cause.
(Yes, we know it's raining right now, but now is the perfect time to stock up to learn what to do, before the misery starts all over again.)
Hang your laundry indoors
If you suffer from hayfever, then the best way to reduce your symptoms is to minimise your exposure to pollen. An easy way to do that is to dry your clothes indoors after they've been in the wash (talking to those lucky folk who live with a gardens here). Avoid having pollen-infused clothing causing you havoc.
Shut your sodding windows when you sleep
Keeping your windows shut at night and first thing in the morning is a quick way to reduce hayfever stress. Yes it is hot, but once again plant semen is flying about the place.
According to Dr Peter Burt, Aerobiologist at the University of Greenwich, "towards the end of the day, the temperature drops causing the pollen that has risen in the atmosphere during the day, to fall back to the ground."
This is why many hayfever suffers find their eyeballs are screaming first thing in the morning. There's just more pollen flying about the place. Protect yourself folks.
Shower before bed
Showering before bed is a good way to get rid of any excess pollen that might be hanging around on you. A quick dab of petroleum jelly in the nose can trap excess pollen before it goes all the way up your nose if you're feeling really bad.
Spoon your eyeballs when you wake up
No, really. Cupping your eyes for a little bit each morning with a teaspoon can be a quick way to reduce puffiness in extreme hayfever suffers.
You'll look silly for a bit, but 1) you're in the privacy of your own home and 2) you already look silly with puffy eyes. Go for it. Bonus points if you stick your spoons in the fridge overnight for an extra cool effect.
And check the damn pollen count in the morning
Remember the 7Ps? Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents P*ss Poor Performance?
Here's the hayfever sufferer version - Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents P*ss Pollen Protection.
(You can keep that shit joke. It's on the house.)
Anyway, check the damn pollen count each morning before you go out your business.
The Met Office have you covered here. Particularly high days may mean you have to take more than one hayfever tablet midday. Free smartphone apps like
Hayfever Relief may also be useful for getting a better handful of what awaits you in the big bad world.
Stay hydrated
Just general good life advice. Drink loads of water in the summer to replace lost fluids and keep your energy levels up.
Watch out for booze and coffee
When the Sun is out, the head to the outside seats in cafe and pubs right?
Not quite for hayfever suffers. If the whole "pollen is flying about and causing stress" thing wasn't bad enough, the things you drink could have an effect as well.
Coffee, beer, wine and cider are said to contain high levels of what are known as '
vasoactive amines' - things like histamine, aka the very thing your hayfever medication is trying to protect you against.
Once again, drinking booze while taking tablets isn't a very smart thing to do.
So there you have it. Our guide to besting hayfever. Stay frosty, folks. Don't mind us when we're wearing sunglasses at night to shield ourselves from all that pollen.
