'It can take a few days for antihistamines to take effect, so start them around three days before you expect symptoms to begin. If you know you suffer from hay fever, take action in advance, says pharmacist Sultan Dajani. Wiping their fur and paws after a walk is a good idea Wiping their fur and paws after a walk is a good idea Dogs can get hay fever too. 'There is also evidence that people who would not normally develop allergies are tipped over into becoming allergic because of mucosal irritation caused by pollutants,' he adds. People who already have allergies are likely to have worse symptoms if they are in a polluted environment, says Professor Sir Malcolm Green, founder of the British Lung Foundation. Increased air pollution may be to blame, especially particulates (microscopic particles) from diesel fumes, for triggering the condition and exacerbating hay fever in those who have it.Ī study published last year in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that people who live in areas of higher pollution are more likely to have more severe nasal symptoms. 'Many people don't realise there is a higher proportion of hay fever sufferers in cities than in the countryside.'
