Spring arrives with warmer days, longer afternoons and more time outdoors. Unfortunately, for some people, it also brings an itchy nose, watery eyes and a seemingly endless supply of tissues.
If you find yourself sneezing as soon as the seasons change, hay fever may be the reason. Also known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever happens when your immune system reacts to substances in the environment that are normally harmless, such as pollen.
For some people, the symptoms are a mild seasonal nuisance. For others, they can interfere with sleep, concentration, exercise and everyday family life. The good news is that understanding what triggers your symptoms can make spring much more manageable.
What exactly is hay fever?
Despite its name, hay fever does not involve hay or cause a fever.
It is an allergic reaction that affects the nose and sometimes the eyes. Your immune system identifies something such as pollen as a threat and releases chemicals that trigger inflammation. That is what leads to the familiar sneezing, congestion and itching.
Common symptoms of hay fever include:
- Frequent sneezing
- A blocked or runny nose
- An itchy nose or throat
- Red, itchy or watery eyes
- Post-nasal drip
- Coughing or throat clearing
- Headaches or pressure around the face
- Feeling tired, particularly if symptoms are disturbing your sleep
Children can experience hay fever too. You may notice frequent nose rubbing, sniffing, mouth breathing or itchy eyes, particularly during certain times of the year.
Why can hay fever get worse during spring?
Spring is one of the busiest times of the year for pollen.
Trees, grasses and other plants release tiny pollen particles into the air as part of their natural reproductive cycle. These particles can travel surprisingly far, especially on dry or windy days.
If pollen is one of your triggers, spending time outside can bring you into contact with larger amounts of it. Opening windows, gardening, playing outdoors or simply walking through a grassy area may be enough to set symptoms off.
Everyone’s triggers are slightly different. Some people experience hay fever mainly during spring, while others struggle at different points throughout the year because of triggers such as dust mites, mould or pet dander.
Keeping track of when symptoms appear can therefore be useful. Changes in season can affect our health in different ways. While spring often brings an increase in pollen exposure, you can also read more about why seasonal changes can affect your health during the colder months.
Is it hay fever or a cold?
This is a common question, particularly when someone suddenly develops a runny nose and sneezing.
There is some overlap, but a few clues may help.
Hay fever tends to cause itching. An itchy nose, throat or eyes is much more suggestive of an allergy than a typical cold. Symptoms can also begin quite quickly after exposure to a trigger and may continue for weeks during pollen season.
A cold is caused by a virus and may be accompanied by symptoms such as a sore throat, body aches or feeling generally unwell. It will also usually improve within a relatively short period.
Another useful clue is repetition. If you develop the same combination of sneezing, congestion and itchy eyes at roughly the same time every spring, hay fever becomes more likely.
If you are unsure, particularly when symptoms are persistent or affecting your breathing, speaking to your GP can help clarify what may be going on. If you are unsure whether your symptoms are caused by allergies or an infection, understanding the difference between a cold, flu and RSV can also help.
What can you do to reduce hay fever symptoms?
You cannot completely avoid pollen, but a few practical changes can reduce how much comes into your home and onto your skin or clothing.
Start with what happens when you come indoors.
After spending a long time outside, consider changing your clothes and washing your face. If pollen levels have been particularly high, showering and washing your hair before bed may also help prevent pollen from transferring onto your pillow.
Keeping bedroom windows closed during periods when your symptoms are particularly troublesome can help as well. Fresh spring air may be tempting, but it can also carry pollen straight indoors.
Other simple strategies include:
- Avoid hanging washing outside on days when pollen levels are high, as pollen can settle on clothing and bedding
- Wear sunglasses outdoors to help reduce pollen reaching your eyes
- Keep car windows closed when driving through areas with lots of vegetation
- Vacuum and dust regularly to reduce allergens inside the home
- Keep pets that spend time outdoors away from pillows and bedding where possible, as pollen can cling to fur
- Pay attention to weather and pollen conditions if your symptoms follow a predictable pattern
You do not need to reorganise your entire life around hay fever. Often, a combination of a few realistic changes is easier to maintain.
What treatments are available for hay fever?
Treatment depends on your symptoms, how often they occur and how much they affect your day.
Antihistamines are commonly used to reduce symptoms such as sneezing, itching and a runny nose. They are available in different forms, including tablets and some nasal sprays.
Nasal corticosteroid sprays may also be recommended for people experiencing ongoing nasal congestion and inflammation. These treatments generally work best when used correctly and consistently rather than only once symptoms have become severe.
Saline nasal rinses or sprays can be useful for some people too, helping to wash pollen and other irritants from the nasal passages.
Your GP or pharmacist can advise you on which option may be appropriate, particularly if you are pregnant, managing another medical condition, giving medication to a child or already taking other medicines.
Try not to rely heavily on decongestant nasal sprays for long periods without medical advice. Some can make nasal congestion worse when used continuously.
Make spring a little easier on your nose
Spring should not have to mean weeks of waking up congested, avoiding the garden or carrying tissues wherever you go.
If hay fever returns every year, recognising the pattern is a useful first step. Pay attention to when symptoms appear, what seems to trigger them and which measures actually make a difference. Small adjustments at home, combined with appropriate treatment where needed, can often make allergy season much easier to manage.
And if the sneezing, itching and blocked nose simply will not settle, it may be worth discussing your symptoms with Dr Claire Godwin & Associates. Sometimes what feels like “just hay fever” deserves a closer look, particularly when it begins to affect sleep, breathing or everyday life.
