10 unexpected facts about hay fever

Summer got you feeling like you want to rip your eyes out? Here are 10 unexpected facts about hay fever!

It’s the time of year where the sun is shining, the flowers are in full bloom and it’s the season to dine al fresco… yet we’re stuck inside with a runny nose and itchy eyes *sob*. It’s estimated there are more than 10 million hay fever sufferers in England alone and according to the NHS, it will affect one in five people at some point in their life.

So what is it? Hay fever is a result of our immune system’s overreaction to pollen. Too much pollen stimulates the body’s mast cells, which then break or degranulate, releasing mediators, including histamines. These mediators can cause many symptoms including the unpleasant itching, red eyes, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and itchy roof of the mouth and ears associated with hay fever. We know when you’re struggling with hay fever, you’ll do almost anything to curb it, so here are 10 unexpected facts about hayfever that you need to know.

1.

It’s the histamines that cause your symptoms – so hay fever symptoms actually come from you! Histamine is produced by the body when it thinks the immune system is under attack. When pollen enters the body of a hay fever sufferer, it triggers the production of histamine, which then creates all those unwanted symptoms. That’s why antihistamines can help. (But histamines are the things in the brain that keep us alert, attentive and awake, so that’s why antihistamines can make you drowsy).

2.

Going for the hottest curry on the menu can actually help your hay fever – or if you’re making your own, go heavy on the spices. Turmeric, an orange-yellow spice, widely used in curries and south Asian cuisine, is believed to reduce inflammation caused by the enzyme phospholipase A2, which is provoked into action by pollen in your system.

3.

Sex can help your hay fever! At the point of orgasm the sympathetic nervous system constricts blood vessels across the body, and an Iranian neurologist has suggested that this could help with hay fever. There may be some practical issues around timing and locations, though!

4.

Flowers are less likely to cause hay fever. Hay fever is caused by airborne pollen particles that have blown away from the plant. However, flower pollen is sticky and coated, which lessens its ability to become airborne. In fact, trees and grass are most likely to cause the sneezing. But that doesn’t mean flowers don’t cause hay fever – some people are very allergic to specific flowers, and you can be allergic to more than one type of pollen.

5.

Some foods are natural antihistamines! Capers, raw red onions and watercress contain high amounts of the natural antihistamine quercetin, which can help reduce hay fever symptoms by blocking the effects of histamines. Combine with pineapple, as it contains bromelain, which helps the body to absorb quercetin.

6.

The attractive, bright orange and red colours of some of our favourite fruits signal that they’re rich in beta carotene, vitamin C and a substance called bioflavonoids. These nutrients are anti-inflammatory agents and are said to boost the immune system.

7.

Hay fever lasts for years – 80 per cent of children diagnosed with hay fever will still be suffering 10 years later and 40 per cent of young adults will still be sneezing into their 20s.

8.

Oral Allergy Syndrome is the name given to allergic reactions in and around the mouth area of hay fever sufferers – such as tingling, a rash and burning sensation. This is caused by contact with proteins in foods that are similar to proteins found in pollens, which the hay fever sufferer is allergic to. For example, birch pollen proteins are similar to those found in kiwi fruits. When a hay fever sufferer who is allergic to birch pollen eats kiwi (among other foods), the body recognises the proteins as harmful and might trigger an allergic reaction.

9.

Research from the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands shows that suffering from hay fever can affect driving ability to the same degree as drinking two to three units of alcohol – the legal limit in most European countries.

10.

Using a simple organic drug-free allergen barrier balm can help! In an Allergy UK survey 80 per cent of respondents said that the HayMax allergen barrier balm worked.