What is hay fever?

Hay fever is an allergy. You experience symptoms due to pollen from certain grasses or trees – this pollen is also known as grass pollen. The symptoms arise when pollen enters your eyes, nose, mouth, throat or windpipe. This causes your mucous membranes to thicken and produce extra mucus.

Although hay fever is unpleasant, it is not dangerous. The symptoms disappear on their own as soon as the pollen is no longer in the air.

What can you do yourself to combat hay fever?

Try to minimise contact with pollen.

• Keep an eye on the weather forecast. Especially in spring and summer, when it is dry and sunny, there is a lot of pollen in the air.
• Check online to see where and when there is a lot of pollen in the air and then try to stay indoors as much as possible.
• Keep the windows closed, even at night. Keep your car windows closed as well. This will prevent pollen from blowing in.
• Open the windows when it is raining or has just rained.
• Wear glasses or sunglasses outdoors. This helps prevent pollen from reaching your eyes.
• Do not mow the lawn yourself.
• Let your laundry dry indoors.

Medicines can help

A nasal spray or other allergy medications can provide relief. A nasal spray containing an anti-inflammatory may also help. It is important to start taking this medication in good time and to keep the windows closed on sunny, windy days.

Read more on Thuisarts.nl about what else you can do to reduce hay fever symptoms, or watch the film about hay fever for more information.