Just as I was starting to get exciting for spring, I remembered exactly why it isn’t always so lovely for me.
Of course, the baby animals in surrounding parks are a sight for my sore eyes but they don’t quite offer the cure to my seasonal ails that I need. I love seeing the world come back to life, especially after a particularly grim winter, but I do also pay a price.
All of this is to say, I’m already sick of my hay fever. Spring has sprung and my nose is constantly running.
I take antihistamines, I’ve tried the TikTok tips of putting Vaseline near my nostrils, I dry my clothes indoors and I always have eye drops with me. None of it even touches the sides these days.
This is at least partially because climate change is making pollen stronger
When climate scientists tell us that climate change impacts everything, they really do mean everything.
Speaking to the BBC, Paul Beggs, an environmental health scientist and professor at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia says: “We know that climate change is leading to greater amounts of pollen in the atmosphere, it’s changing the seasonality of the pollen. It’s changing the types of pollen that we’re exposed to.”
Elaine Fuertes, a public health scientist at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, UK also spoke with the BBC and warns: “You’re going to get people who experience [allergy] symptoms earlier in the year, for a longer period of time.”
Hay fever injections have been on the rise
In the past month alone, there has been a 375% increase in Google searches for treatments like the hay fever injection. What’s more, searches this quarter have more than doubled, increasing by 142% compared to the same period last year.
It’s a tempting option – a quick, simple injection versus trying different antihistamines until one takes the edge off would at the very least save hay fever sufferers some cash but according to one doctor, we shouldn’t race to get injected just yet.
Dr Rupa Parmar, GP and Director of Midland Health, advises: “There is no cure for hay fever, so managing symptoms effectively is key. While some treatments have been touted for reducing symptoms in as little as 48 hours, they are off-license medications that cannot be prescribed without a doctor’s assessment.
“Only in very rare circumstances can you get an intramuscular steroid injection if your doctor has assessed you and they think it’s appropriate.”
While a hay fever injection may seem like a quick-fix, Dr Parmar warns that they can be anything but.
“These injections definitely shouldn’t be given by anyone as the dangers include soreness, swelling, increased blood pressure, mood swings, and insomnia.
“They can also make people susceptible to other bacteria and viruses. Not to mention, many of these treatments are not permanent, only lasting for around three to six months, so new prescriptions are required every allergy season.”
If hay fever symptoms are impacting your day-to-day life, speak to your GP to get a treatment that works for you.
#Hay #Fever #Injection #Effective
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