WITH super high pollen counts set to continue circulating the UK for the next few days, hay fever sufferers may feel like there’s no end in sight.
Especially if their litany of remedies don’t seem to be cutting it this allergy season.
TikTok has reacted in horror to a video shared by Simon Hupkes showcasing his extreme hay fever reactionTikTok/@simonhupkes__
Dr Karan Rajan shared some remedies to your agonising symptoms you might not have heard about – and some mistakes you might be making with your hay fever [email protected]/Tiktok
The GP recommended you look for unbranded fexofedanine hydrochloride [email protected]/Tiktok
If you’re using nasal spray, Dr Rajan warned not to point it upwards or [email protected]/Tiktok
But one GP has shared some remedies to your agonising symptoms you might not have heard about – and some mistakes you might be making with your hay fever meds.
NHS surgeon Dr Karan Rajan reacted to a video which has been making the rounds on social media, showing a man so stricken by hay fever his eyes are streaming and swelled almost shut and he emits loud, snotty sniffs.
“Now I’m going to assume you’re doing all the basics,” Dr Rajan said in his latest clip, listing off applying Vaseline around the nostrils, wearing sunglasses, washing your hair before bed, not drying laundry outside and changing clothes frequently.
But the TikTok famous doc said you also need to implement the following tips in order to successful beat your misery-inducing allergies.
1. Take unbranded fexofenadine hydrochloride
Dr Rajan’s first piece of advice was to take fexofedanine, which he said is “the strongest over-the-counter hay fever medication you can buy”.
“It’s a lot stronger than cetirizine and loratidine,” two additional types of allergy relief pills, he added.
“Fexofenadine is quite expensive so look for the active ingredient fexofenadine hydrochloride in the generic non-branded version to get it cheaper.”
TikTok users have recently been raving about Allevia tablets, which contain this active ingredient. A pack of 7 will cost you about £3.49, while a 15 pack goes for £5.89 and 30 pack for £10.50.
People commenting under Dr Rajan’s video gave a shout-out to the pills, which one writing: “In Allevia we trust!! Discovered it recently and it’s an absolute godsend.”
But the GP said you can find fexofenadine hydrochloride at even lower prices.
“Go for the non branded cheaper one with the same efficacy!” he advised the viewer.
2. Wash out your nose
Dr Rajan said nasal irrigation “can be a lot more effective than pills because it’s in your nose holes that pollen can get trapped and cause reactions.”
“Flushing your nose pipes could help to reduce symptoms,” the GP went on.
But he had an important note for anyone choosing this hay fever relief route.
“If you use a nasal spray, don’t point up towards your brain – point sideways towards your ears so it will be in parallel with your sinuses, which is where the medication needs to go.”
“And don’t inhale because the medication will end up in your throat and it won’t work,” Dr Rajan stressed.
3. Avoid booze
Finally, the NHS surgeon has some disappointing news to anyone who enjoys a pint or glass of wine on a summer evening.
“Alcohol worsens hay fever symptoms because it contains the chemical histamine, which triggers the allergic reaction.”
“It also makes more sensitised to pollen, thus increasing symptoms,” Dr Rajan added.
In the comment section under the video, one viewer lamented “why is it soooo bad this year i am fighting for my life in the hay fever trenches,” to which Dr Rajan responded: “It’s only going to keep getting worse with the erratic weather we’re having!”
Pollen counts are set to wane slightly in the next few days, but they will still remain ‘very high’ in parts of England until Saturday.
Levels in most of Scotland and Northern Ireland will go from ‘high’ to ‘medium’ by Monday.
What are the symptoms of hay fever?
HAY fever is a common allergic condition.
t affects up to one in five people at some point in their life.
You’ll experience hay fever symptoms if you have an allergic reaction to pollen.
The symptoms of hay fever include:
frequent sneezing
runny or blocked nose
itchy, red or watery eyes (allergic conjunctivitis)
an itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
cough, caused by postnasal drip (mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose)
Less commonly, you may also experience:
the loss of your sense of smell (anosmia)
facial pain (caused by blocked sinuses)
headaches
earache
tiredness and fatigue
If you have asthma, your asthma symptoms may get worse when you have hay fever.
Source: NHS