Springtime allergies are no fun. Yet year after year, people find themselves caught out by a hay fever attack. Without proper treatment, hay fever can impair your quality of life, causing sleeplessness, fatigue and irritability. This can affect performance at work or school. Fortunately, an allergy towards pollens can be managed effectively with a little advanced planning.

What is Hay Fever?

Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is the name given to an allergic response to specific substances in your environment. The most common causes of hay fever are pollens from grass, trees and weeds. ( In Canada, allergies that occur in the spring are usually due to tree pollen. Allergies that occur in the summer are often due to grass and weed pollen, while allergies that occur in the fall are usually caused by weed pollen.) Flower pollen usually doesn't cause hay fever because the pollen is too heavy to float in the air. Flowers rely on insects to carry their pollen.

Hay fever signs and symptoms usually develop immediately after you have been exposed to the specific substances (allergens) to which you are sensitive. When pollens are inhaled, the body releases histamine - a chemical present throughout the body that gives rise to sneezing, congestion, and itchy, watery eyes. These reactions are the body’s way of flushing away the invading irritant.

Heredity plays a key role in the development of allergies, including hay fever. You may be more likely to develop hay fever if allergies or asthma run in your family.

While hay fever can begin at any age, you're most likely to develop the condition during childhood or early adulthood. As you become older, your symptoms may improve or become worse.

Managing Symptoms

Although it is impossible to completely avoid hay fever allergens, you can minimize or control your symptoms by reducing your exposure to the pollens. This is achieved by:

• Knowing your triggers and avoiding them. Remember that grass pollinates between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., weeds pollinate at sunrise and sunset, and that windy days will have higher pollen levels.
• Closing doors and windows during pollen season and using air conditioning to cool your house and/or car. (Be sure to change a/c filters as frequently as suggested by the manufacturer.)
• Staying indoors on dry, windy days when pollen counts are high. (Counts are usually provided on radio, television and in the daily newspapers.)
• Using a HEPA filter air purifier device (London Drugs carries a number of models) in your bedroom. Air purifiers remove pollen, harmful bacteria, smoke, dust and odours from the air. Many doctors now recommend air purifiers for people with allergies.
• Avoiding mowing the lawn.
• Changing your clothes and showering when coming in from outdoor pursuits.
• Having a medication at hand and using it at the first sign of an allergy attack.

Products That Help

Many allergy relief products are available from the London Drugs pharmacy. These include new Chlor-Tripolon® day and night pack, Claritin® Kids, Reactine* Allergy and Benadryl Allergy.*

Chlor-Tripolon® day and night pack is a double format consisting of 12 day tablets and 12 sustained-release night tablets. Both formulations provide fast and effective relief for allergy and hay fever symptoms including itchy, watery eyes and skin, sneezing and runny nose. The sustained-release night tablets ensure you enjoy a comfortable, undisturbed sleep. This product is suitable for adults and children of 12 and older.

Non-drowsy, extra-strength Reactine* Allergy provides fastacting, 24-hour relief for runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and hives. This product is suitable for adults under age 65 and children of 12 and older.

Benadryl Allergy* provides fast, effective relief of allergy and hay fever symptoms and is suitable for adults and children over the age of 12. (This is not a non-drowsy formula and is not timereleased. Therefore, many people prefer to use it after returning from work or before bed, for a shorter period of relief.)

If your child has an allergy or hay fever, you can help calm his/her symptoms with fruit-flavoured Claritin® Kids syrup. This product provides 24-hour relief and is non-drowsy so that your son or daughter will be able to get through school and other pursuits without feeling sleepy.

Claritin® Kids contains no alcohol or lactose and is suitable for children of two to 12 years of age.

You should consult your doctor or pharmacist before using products containing antihistamines and/or a decongestant if you have a pre-existing medical condition, are taking medications such as anti-depressants, are pregnant or nursing a baby. These, and all other drugs, should be locked safely away from children.

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