A few things you can do at home before hay fever season

Before hay fever season, which parts of the home should you sort out first?

Hay fever is usually most obvious from late spring to early autumn. There is more pollen in the air on warm, humid, windy days. Rather than waiting until your eyes itch and you sneeze non-stop, it is better to deal with the "pollen hiding spots" at home before the season arrives.

Carpets, soft furniture and soft toys easily collect dust and also easily trap pollen. Do a thorough vacuuming before the season, then keep vacuuming regularly and wipe dust with a damp cloth. Damp wiping is less likely than dry wiping to stir up fine dust.

During hay fever season, try to keep windows and doors closed. Do not put fresh flowers indoors, and do not dry clothes outdoors — clothing fibres can bring pollen into the house. If someone at home smokes, smoke can make nose and eye symptoms worse, and this is worth making clear in advance.

How should bedding be washed, and how often?

People spend one third of the day in bed, and bedding is a place where both pollen and house dust mite easily stay. Before hay fever season, wash the sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases once, then keep changing them regularly. This is a very low-cost step.

When washing, follow the care label on the bedding. Materials that can tolerate it can use hotter water. Dry thoroughly after washing before making the bed. If you have a dryer at home, drying slowly on a low heat is less likely to leave lingering dampness than drying in the shade.

For pillows, duvet inners and similar items that are not easy to wash often, handle them according to the label, or add a removable washable cover and focus on washing the cover. One reminder: washing bedding can reduce contact, but it cannot bring indoor pollen down to zero, so do not treat it as the only measure.

Should you talk to a doctor in advance?

If your symptoms have been obvious in past hay fever seasons, it is worth talking to a doctor once before the season. What should you talk about? Clearly explain when you started feeling unwell last year, how long it lasted, and which symptoms affected your life most, so the doctor can decide whether to arrange things in advance.

For some people, the doctor may consider allergen immunotherapy. This kind of treatment usually needs to start several months before hay fever season begins, so "in advance" is itself a condition. Whether it suits you and how to arrange it need the doctor's judgement based on your personal situation. Do not simply copy someone else's experience.

People who already use certain medicines to relieve symptoms can also use the time before the season to confirm how to use them and what to note. Some antihistamine ingredients may make people drowsy. If you need to drive or attend classes in daily life, ask your doctor or pharmacist clearly in advance. Do not wait until symptoms start before making temporary adjustments.

What should a symptom diary record, and how should medicines be prepared?

Prepare a small notebook or a phone memo and record three things: the day's symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, cough, etc.), the approximate time and place, and the day's weather and whether you went out. After a few weeks, you can see your own pattern.

This record is very useful when you see a doctor. It can help the doctor judge triggers and how severe the symptoms are. It also reminds you: worsening symptoms often have a traceable pattern, so you do not need to wait until you feel very unwell before thinking back.

As for medicines, you can prepare at home in advance the relief items that a doctor or pharmacist recommended in past years. Check the expiry date and keep them in a fixed place that children cannot reach. What exactly to use and how to use it should still be based on the in-person advice of a doctor or pharmacist. Do not increase the dose or mix medicines on your own.

After going out, take a shower and change clothes when you get home to wash off pollen. When going out, you can wear wrap-around sunglasses, a mask or a wide-brimmed hat, and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly around the nostrils, which helps reduce pollen contact. These measures are simple, but they need to be kept up.

Which signals mean you should see a doctor?

Symptoms in hay fever season usually last for weeks to months, unlike an ordinary cold that gets better in one or two weeks. If nose and eye symptoms come back at the same time every year, it is worth seeing a doctor for assessment rather than toughing it out year after year.

See a doctor as soon as possible if any of the following occur: wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, or waking at night unable to breathe; swelling of the lips, tongue or throat; large areas of urticaria (hives) all over the body with dizziness or palpitations; symptoms clearly affecting sleep, study or work; or no improvement after following a previous plan.

In addition, if symptoms are only in one side of the nasal cavity, or are accompanied by purulent nasal discharge or facial fullness and pain, or if fever occurs, also ask a doctor to judge. Do not attribute everything to pollen. Children, pregnant women, and people with underlying conditions such as asthma have different priorities for medicine use and observation, and should be assessed individually by a doctor.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Please follow your doctor's instructions.