Hayfever Treatment, Types & Natural Remedies

Help! Why am I sneezing so much?

Sneezing a lot? Can’t stop rubbing at your eyes and nose? Sounds like hayfever! Hayfever, or allergic rhinitis in doctor-speak, is not actually caused by hay, and it won’t give you a fever. It will, however, give you an itchy, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes.

Hayfever occurs when you come into contact with what’s called environmental allergens – tiny things in the air such as pollens, dust mites, mould spores, and pet dander. These allergens trigger an immune response that causes inflammation inside your nose and results in those bothersome hayfever symptoms.

How can I find hayfever relief?

While there is no outright cure for hayfever, there are different ways that you can find relief from your symptoms. As hayfever is caused by allergens, the most obvious thing to do is just avoid exposing yourself to the allergen. But that’s easier said than done – you can’t exactly hide inside for the whole of spring and summer or get rid of a beloved family pet! And sometimes it can be hard to figure out exactly what allergen is causing your symptoms. So while it is important to reduce your exposure to allergens as much as reasonably possible, you will likely need some other options to help relieve your symptoms.

Hayfever treatment: types of hayfever medication and how they work

There are different types of hayfever medication that work in different ways to help relieve hayfever symptoms. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about which hayfever medication would be suitable for your hayfever, especially if your symptoms occur frequently or affect your sleep or daily activities.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines work by blocking the body’s reaction when histamine is released during the immune response to an allergen exposure. This helps to reduce symptoms of sneezing and itchy eyes and nose, although can be less helpful for controlling a very blocked nose. Antihistamines come as hayfever tablets that you can swallow, but some also come as hayfever nasal spray or hayfever eye drops that help to quickly relieve symptoms in the nose or eyes. Whatever type of antihistamine you choose, always read the label and follow directions for use – as some antihistamines may cause drowsiness.

For rapid, non-drowsy relief from hayfever symptoms including sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, and runny nose for up to 24 hours, try DEMAZIN Allergy + Hayfever Relief, which contains the antihistamine agent loratadine.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays

Corticosteroid nasal sprays work by reducing inflammation inside the nose, helping to relieve blocked noses and eye symptoms – but it’s important that they are used regularly and correctly.

Decongestants

Decongestant tablets or nasal sprays work by unblocking and drying out the nose but should not be used for more than a few days at a time.

People with seasonal or intermittent symptoms may only need to take medication for a few months of the year when high levels of pollens and grasses are in the air. Some people who experience more persistent or year-round symptoms may need to take medication on a more regular basis.

Can cold and flu medications help?

Many cold and flu medications can help relieve symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, watery itchy eyes, and sneezing by including a decongestant, a pain reliever, and an antihistamine. If you are experiencing all of these symptoms, a cold and flu medicine may help. Just remember to always read the label and be careful when taking combination products – you don’t want to be doubling up on ingredients.

There are a range of DEMAZIN cold and flu products that can help relieve blocked or runny noses and sneezing:

DEMAZIN Cold + Flu Relief Day and Night Tablets
DEMAZIN Kids 6+ Cold Relief Colour Free Syrup
DEMAZIN Kids 6+ Cold Relief Blue Syrup
DEMAZIN Kids 6+ Cough and Cold Relief Syrup
DEMAZIN Cold + Flu + Cough Day and Night Capsules

For relief from a sore throat and that stuffy, blocked nose feeling of a cold, try DEMAZIN Cold + Flu Relief Tablets, which contain a pain reliever and a decongestant.

Hayfever natural remedies

The best hayfever remedy is to avoid or limit allergen exposure whenever possible. If pollen triggers your hayfever, this can include staying inside during pollen season and particularly on windy days and avoiding activities where you are likely to be exposed to pollen, such as mowing grass. You could also consider ways to reduce the amount of pollen, dust, or pet dander inside your home, such as washing bedding and vacuuming carpets every week and using a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to trap allergens from the air.

When exposure is unavoidable, a simple natural remedy that may help relieve symptoms is salt water. Rinsing out your nose with salt water – also known as a saline wash or saline irrigation – can help to remove allergens and soothe itching.