| Having hay fever is quite similar to having a constant | | | | car. |
| flu: it interferes with every aspect of your daily life | | | | - Stop consuming alcoholic beverages - they |
| and may even disrupt something important, such as a | | | | aggravate hay fever symptoms. Beer, wine and |
| job interview, or a meeting, or an exam, for example. | | | | other alcoholic drinks contain histamine - a chemical |
| Far from pleasant, isn't it? However, a lot of people | | | | that triggers the symptoms of allergies in the body. |
| still have no idea that there are in fact several simple | | | | If you smoke - it's also a good idea to quit, as |
| ways to minimize the effects of hay fever. Here are | | | | nicotine only worsens any hay fever symptoms. |
| a few selected methods and techniques for dealing | | | | - Wearing big, wide sunglasses helps to protect your |
| with hay fever: | | | | eyes from pollen. Women whose eyes get sore |
| - Start taking some hay fever medications prescribed | | | | because of hay fever are strongly advised to use |
| by your family physician before the pollen starts to | | | | hypoallergenic makeup. Check at your local pharmacy |
| appear. Taking action beforehand is very important: it | | | | for more advice on this. |
| can help you prevent hay fever symptoms | | | | - Put a tiny drop of petroleum jelly in each nostril. |
| developing at a later stage. The best preventive | | | | This will stop pollen from entering your nasal |
| remedy depends largely on your symptoms. You | | | | passages, and you'll be able to 'survive' the streets. |
| may even need a combination of several | | | | - When the pollen counts are especially high, make |
| antihistamine pills, nasal sprays and eye drops. | | | | sure you dry all your washing inside, to make sure no |
| - Take a spoonful of honey after meals every day. | | | | pollen gets onto it. |
| Important: the honey must be locally produced for | | | | - Before entering your bedroom, take off any of |
| the best effect. This helps build your immune system. | | | | your 'outside' clothes that you wore in the street. |
| - Keep windows closed from early morning until late | | | | Take a quick shower and wash your hair before |
| in the afternoon. It is exactly the times when pollen | | | | bedtime, otherwise pollen will be all over your pillow. |
| levels are high. Keep car windows closed and turn | | | | If you're too tired, brush your hair with a few |
| your air conditioning system on to a closed circle, so | | | | hairbrush strokes and wear a shower cap. |
| that the pollination outside air does not get into the | | | | |