HAYFEVER SUFFERERS FACE DOUBLE POLLEN COUNT THIS YEAR

Hayfever sufferers in Eastbourne are set to experience severe misery this year thanks to a condensed pollen season caused by the late, cold spring.

Acupuncture and massage therapist Angela Wallis reveals how you can help yourself through 2013’s hayfever season.

Beverley Adams-Groom, head of Worcester University’s National Pollen & Aerobiology Research Unit, warns that the birch pollen season has just kicked off in the South of England and will last for up to five weeks. This means the grass pollen season, which affects 95 per cent of sufferers, will hit simultaneously in May causing horrendous symptoms of sneezing, itchy eyes and painful sinuses.

37 per cent of hayfever sufferers in Eastbourne, according to new research, admit that their symptoms are usually worst in June, however experts say they may experience these earlier this year.

The research also found that whilst 27 per cent of hayfever sufferers in Eastbourne experience symptoms in May, three per cent say theirs can start as early as February. The top triggers include freshly cut grass (65 per cent of people), being in the garden (46 per cent), bouquets (23 per cent) and fields of crops (10 per cent).

Typical treatment for hayfever can include anti-histamines, corticosteroid nose sprays, eye drops, nasal decongestants and in some cases immunotherapy. Acupuncture is also beneficial as independent scientific research shows it can help reduce inflammation of the sinuses and increase microcirculation around the nose which assists with combatting swelling in the area.

Here are some self-help tips to get you through the season…

·         Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting in your eyes when you are outdoors.

·         Change your clothes and take a shower after being outdoors to remove the pollen on your body.

·         Stay indoors when the pollen count is high – listen out to weather reports for this.

·         Rub a small amount of vaseline inside your lower nostrils. This can help prevent pollen from entering your nasal passages.

·         Avoid cutting grass, playing or walking in grassy areas, and camping.

·         Keep windows and doors shut when at home.

·         Keep car windows closed.

·         Vacuum regularly.

·         Avoid drying clothes outside.

With 2.3 million acupuncture treatments carried out each year, acupuncture is one of the most popular complementary therapies practised in the UK today.

Angela Wallis offers free 15 minute consultations so you can find out whether it’s the right treatment for you. Visit www.woodsideacupuncture.co.uk or call 01323 638606