Seasonal Allergies

Many patients suffer from seasonal allergy usually during the summer months, which most people refer to as hay fever. Hay fever symptoms include: sneezing,  a runny nose and itchy eyes.

You’ll experience hay fever symptoms if you have an allergic reaction to pollen, which is a fine powder released by plants as part of their reproductive cycle. Pollen can cause the nose, eyes, throat and sinuses (small air-filled cavities behind your cheekbones and forehead) to become swollen, irritated and inflamed.

Many effective treatments are affordable and readily available over the counter from your local pharmacist. As part of an NHS England strategy to save money on drugs which can be bought over the counter, the practice is no longer prescribing antihistamines or nasal sprays to patients over the age of 18 with hay fever. Patients under the age of 18 will still be able to obtain these medications on prescription. All patients who continue to have troublesome symptoms that are not responding to over the counter treatments should ask to speak to a doctor for further advice.