YOU may rub your eyes in disbelief as you read this, but experts reckon it’s a good solution for hay fever. . . chocolate.
Oh, and by the way, chamomile tea, apples, tomatoes, onions and peppers also help at this time, as a pollen bomb causes misery.
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Millions of people suffer from itching and watery eyes, runny nose and persistent cough.
Summer hayfever season is upon us, despite all the rain.
While relentless drizzle can wash pollen off trees, the grass variant increases from May to July and the water breaks it down into smaller particles that are WORSE for the allergy sufferers among us.
Pollen counts are forecast to rise in the South this weekend and by Tuesday everyone in England except the North West will have sore eyes.
The number of victims has tripled in the last 30 years, to one in four.
Holly Shaw, nurse advisor at the charity Allergy UK, puts this down to “better diagnosis, but also climate change, with higher temperatures causing pollen seasons to start earlier and last longer”.
But if the daily remedies of antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays and balms from the pharmacy aren’t working, don’t give up hope, there are other tricks you can implement.
From showering regularly and vacuuming the house to scoffing at chocolates, here are some tactics that shouldn’t be overlooked. . .
1. WEAR wrap-around sunglasses and a hat with a large peak or brim, or opt for a face mask.
2. On high pollen days, take a bath or shower and wash your hair. Change your clothes when you get home.
3. Avoid cutting the grass or raking leaves – ask someone else to intervene.
4. Try not to air dry clothes or sheets when allergen counts are high.
5. Keep windows tightly closed, especially early in the morning and at night when higher levels of pollen are released.
6. Clean pets with a damp cloth as they can bring pollen into the house. Also think about keeping your dog or cat away from you if you can.
7. Put petroleum jelly around your nostrils to trap particles before they go up your nose.
8. Take a few minutes every day to vacuum well, especially if you have thick pile carpets. Vacuum over upholstered furniture where particles may have spread through open windows.
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9. Clean windows and window sills regularly.
10. Wash your bedding once a week on high to remove any pollen that may have been transferred from you and your clothes.
11. Take vitamin D supplements. Research has shown that they can regulate immune system cells that help prevent allergic reactions.
12. Change your diet. Experts say diets rich in antioxidants, such as broccoli, spinach, potatoes and carrots, can help prevent a stuffy nose caused by hay fever.
13. Good news for those with a sweet tooth, dark chocolate can also help reduce symptoms. It produces antioxidant quercetin and is believed to block enzymes that contribute to inflammation, such as histamine. Other things rich in this magical ingredient include chamomile tea, apples, tomatoes, onions and peppers.
14. If all else fails and you feel like hayfever is ruining your life, or even causing asthma attacks, see your doctor, who will be able to refer you to a specialist clinic.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
