Hay fever

Hay fever

Hay fever season in Ireland generally runs from April to August. This is when the grass pollen is at its highest. The Pollen is generally higher during warm and humid conditions.

Hay fever can sometimes appear similar to a cold but it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms. These include:

• Sneezing
• Dry throat leading to cough
• Runny/blocked nose
• Itchy, red, or watery eyes
• Itchy throat, mouth, nose or ears
• Pain around temples and forehead
• Headache
• Feeling tired

If you suffer from asthma you can also experience:

• A tight feeling in the chest
• Wheeze or cough
• Shortness of breath

There are many ways to treat hay fever, such as nasal sprays, tablets, eye drops and wipes. There are some other things you can do to help protect yourself from hay fever too.
Our Top Tips for protecting yourself are:

• Stay away from grassy areas, especially freshly cut grass
• Keep windows and doors closed when the pollen count is high
• Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
• Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes
• Shower, wash your hair and change your clothes if you have been outside for an extended period
• Do not keep fresh flowers in the house
• Do not smoke or avoid being around smoke as this can make the symptoms worse
• Avoid drying clothes outside, they may catch pollen and cause worsening of symptoms

 

You can keep an eye on the pollen forecast HERE (https://www.met.ie/forecasts/pollen )