ARTICLES
Hay Fever
May 2011
By Dr Peter Berkin
By Dr Peter Berkin
The term Hay Fever almost certainly dates back to the days when farming was all done by hand and many workers would be out in the fields in mid summer cutting the long grass to make hay. During this activity some people would start sneezing and coughing and a few would go on to develop secondary, bacterial lung infections and so develop a temperature or "fever". Thus the process of making hay was associated with the risk of developing a fever. In fact most people suffering from grass pollen allergy nowadays do not develop a temperature even though many of the symptoms feel like a cold or even flu. Grass pollen allergy commonly causes itching and watering of the nose and eyes, sneezing, wheezing, frontal headache and feelings of general malaise and congestion.
The reason for all of this is that grass pollen grains are very small and like common bacteria and viruses their presence in the air that we breath can cause tremendous irritation to the tissues that line our nose and the surface of our eyes. If your body becomes sensitized or allergic to the pollen then what would normally be a minor irritation turns into a lot of very uncomfortable symptoms.
People can sensitize to pollen at any age and this often happens after a particularly heavy exposure such as would happen if cything down mature grass.
Tree pollens often cause some allergic symptoms in late March and early April, but the grass pollens start to build up in the air from mid May onwards. The pollen counts peak on dry, warm, windy days and the highest peak of all nearly always occurs in the middle of June, close to mid Summer. By mid July the counts are falling but then moulds and spores get going in August ans September and they too can cause problems.
It is a common belief that the bright yellow rape now common on UK farmland causes problems but in fact very little rape pollen is found in the air as the rape plant is insect pollinated, not wind pollinated. The same is true of roses.
Having sensitized to grass pollen it is common for the individual to remain sensitive and suffer symptoms every summer for as long as ten years but most will eventually desensitize. Attempts to force desensitization my injecting small amounts of pollen under the skin used to be common practice but this was not particularly effective and carried the risk of serious, life threatening anaphylactic reaction so has largely died out. It is common to use antihistamines, allergy blockers and steroids either topically or as sprays or drops or systemically as tablets for severe symptoms. Steroid injections can also be used although less commonly now because of potential side effects.
In the world of complementary therapy there are several herbal tinctures that are recommended one of the best known being Luffa Complex from A.Vogel. Homeopathy may also help especially if started early in the season. Another plant based product commonly used is Quercetin which appears to act like a natural antihistamine.
Finally, if all else fails move to the seaside where the sea breeze carries less pollen!
The reason for all of this is that grass pollen grains are very small and like common bacteria and viruses their presence in the air that we breath can cause tremendous irritation to the tissues that line our nose and the surface of our eyes. If your body becomes sensitized or allergic to the pollen then what would normally be a minor irritation turns into a lot of very uncomfortable symptoms.
People can sensitize to pollen at any age and this often happens after a particularly heavy exposure such as would happen if cything down mature grass.
Tree pollens often cause some allergic symptoms in late March and early April, but the grass pollens start to build up in the air from mid May onwards. The pollen counts peak on dry, warm, windy days and the highest peak of all nearly always occurs in the middle of June, close to mid Summer. By mid July the counts are falling but then moulds and spores get going in August ans September and they too can cause problems.
It is a common belief that the bright yellow rape now common on UK farmland causes problems but in fact very little rape pollen is found in the air as the rape plant is insect pollinated, not wind pollinated. The same is true of roses.
Having sensitized to grass pollen it is common for the individual to remain sensitive and suffer symptoms every summer for as long as ten years but most will eventually desensitize. Attempts to force desensitization my injecting small amounts of pollen under the skin used to be common practice but this was not particularly effective and carried the risk of serious, life threatening anaphylactic reaction so has largely died out. It is common to use antihistamines, allergy blockers and steroids either topically or as sprays or drops or systemically as tablets for severe symptoms. Steroid injections can also be used although less commonly now because of potential side effects.
In the world of complementary therapy there are several herbal tinctures that are recommended one of the best known being Luffa Complex from A.Vogel. Homeopathy may also help especially if started early in the season. Another plant based product commonly used is Quercetin which appears to act like a natural antihistamine.
Finally, if all else fails move to the seaside where the sea breeze carries less pollen!