How to reduce hay fever symptoms? GP offers their advice

Bolton's Dr Helen Wall shared that although pollen levels are currently low, both tree pollen and grass pollen will be rising soon enough.

Appearing on the BBC's Morning Live show, she explained: "The pollen season starts with tree pollen in the early spring, followed by grass pollen in early May and throughout the summer and weed pollen seasons throughout spring to summer peaking in June/July."

Dr Wall said that taking medication early could help reduce hay fever symptoms (Image: Canva)

How to reduce hay fever symptoms

Dr Wall has shared that there is a step hay fever sufferers can start taking now to help reduce their symptoms later on in the year, Wales Online reports.

She said: "There is tree pollen around right now and what we can do is start medication now so that by the time it is at its peak in March – or later in the year if you suffer from grass pollen – you will have blocked those receptors to histamine.

"What happens is your body thinks it’s dangerous. We know it isn't dangerous, it is in the air and it doesn’t affect lots of people, but when your body thinks it's dangerous it releases this chemical called histamine which gives you that runny nose and water eyes, tickly throat.

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"Antihistamines – which are simple medications you can buy from most shops, supermarkets and pharmacies - will block those receptors so you will release histamines but it won’t cause that awful response which will reduce those symptoms if not eradicate them."

Dr Wall advised people to start taking them between two and four weeks before the worst of the symptoms begin.

She also said nasal steroid sprays are effective at reducing symptoms, although they often take several weeks to start taking effect.