Stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy eyes. Hay fever symptoms are horrible and can be really debilitating for hay fever sufferers. You may have exams to sit, or just want to be able to enjoy being outside in the sunshine, but it can seem like pollen is ruining your life. As a sufferer myself I have tried and tested so many things over the years for reducing hay fever and allergy symptoms.
Unfortunately my eldest son has inherited my dodgy nose. And we both suffer from allergies all year round. They effect our nasal passages, eyes and throat, and we can have severe symptoms. Comments like “you always have a cold” are not unusual. Nor is being stopped in the street because people think I’m crying! However over the last few years I have been able to relieve my symptoms of hay fever.
My Top Tips To Reduce Hay Fever Symptoms
Antihistamines & Medication
Antihistamine tablets are essential for me. I always take the non-drowsy antihistamines. The key for me has been consistency. Take one every single day. For me once the symptoms start, it’s too late to take one. I think of antihistamines as a prevention rather than a cure.
Other medications to relieve hay fever symptoms such as steroid nasal sprays and saline sprays can help. These are available over the counter from the pharmacy.
Hollistic Remidies
There are alternatives to medication, and these are particularly useful for children who we prefer not to medicate every day. Nat Pat are passionate about providing non evasive relief to kids for all sorts of things, including hay fever. Their range of stickers infused with plant based essential oils are selected to be gentle enough for little ones and strong enough to to provide hay fever relief.
Nat Pat sent us some seasonal sensitivity stickers to try out. Now I’m not going to lie, it took some convincing to get my 15 year old to pop a pirate sticker on his tshirt. But he was having a particularly rough day with hay fever. Itchy nose and eyes and it was aggravating his asthma too. So I convinced him to try a sticker and within an hour his nasal congestion had cleared and he was feeling much better. The stickers definitely help relieve symptoms, and he said he would use them again, but could Nat Pat possibly design some for teens so he can go out in public! Personally I have no problem rocking a pirate sticker!
The sticker packs are easy to pop in your handbag when you are out and about. Each pack contains 24 stickers. I love the fact that you can just pop one on and that’s it. Really simple, just leave it to do it’s job. These stickers will be a go to for me now for allergy relief and prevention.
Dry your clothes inside
Perhaps the epitome of a British Summer is the image laundry hung outside blowing in the breeze. Just picture it, high pollen count, gentle breeze, the pollen attaching itself to anything it comes into contact with. Including your freshly laundered clothes hanging on the line, all ready to make your symptoms worse when you get dressed.
A really simple way to stop pollen getting trapped in your clothes is to dry your clothes inside. Avoid hanging them on the line. If you have an allergic reaction to pollen this simple tip could really help with symptoms.
Nasal Dilater
Sleeping with a nasal dilator can improve airflow by around 76% and reduce nasal congestion. When you are really bunged up with allergy symptoms this can help you get a good nights sleep. A nasal dilator has the added benefit of reducing snoring! They are resuable and easy to grab from Amazon.
Blackout Curtains
The best way to prevent hay fever is to stop the pollen coming in your home. Blackout curtains are great for this as their double layer serves to block allergens.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are your best friend when it’s hay fever season. If you are already suffering they will hide your sore eyes, but more importantly they act as a barrier to the pollen. Never leave home without them.
So those are my tried and tested tips for reducing hay fever and allergy symptoms. I hope they are useful to you. I think the only other thing to say is avoid frolicking in fields of hay!
This post is sponsored by Nat Pat. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Check out Nat Pat’s full range of stick on superpowers for kids. These include Breathe easy for relief from cold symptoms, sensory stickers, sleepy stickers, mosquito stickers, and much more. They even do them for your furry family members too.
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Going to give these a try for my son doing his DofE qualifier in a few weeks. Thanks for a great post x
My son is doing his DofE too. I’ve added them to the kit list!
These are all great tips and those patches look brilliant. Thank you.
Having tried every allergy relief under the sun in my time I was sceptical, but they are working brilliantly for him.