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Ever noticed your throat feels a little sore when you’re battling hayfever? You’re not alone…
For most people, the thought of entering the warmer months can’t come quick enough. But these seasons also come with a wave of hayfever. It’s a time where the pollen count is at its highest, meaning long stretches of sneezing, itchy, watery eyes and sometimes, a sore throat.
Sound familiar? Read on as we discuss the link between a sore throat and hayfever.
What is hayfever?
Hayfever is an allergic reaction to pollen. This is a fine powder produced and released by trees, grasses and weeds as part of their reproductive cycle. This can cause the nose, eyes, throat and sinuses to become swollen, irritated and inflamed when pollen enters the body.
Generally speaking, hayfever is worse between late March and September, causing symptoms such as sneezing, itchy, red or watery eyes, a runny or blocked nose, as well as an itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears. Some people may notice it causes a sore throat, too, which we’ll get into next.
How does hayfever affect the throat?
When you think of hayfever, often your first thought is the sneezing and runny nose. But it’s because of this that postnasal drip (mucus dripping down the throat from the nose) occurs. The exposure to pollen causes congestion in the nose and sinuses which then drains down to the back of the throat, causing postnasal drip. This can lead to a tickling or scratchy feeling, as well as coughing, which may be irritating and uncomfortable.
How do I know if my sore throat is caused by hayfever?
As hayfever is seasonal, with symptoms lasting anywhere from weeks or months, it can be tricky to tell if your sore throat is caused by an infection or your hayfever. The easiest way to tell is if your sore throat eases off with your other hayfever symptoms. If it persists after your symptoms have cleared up, then it’s likely a sore throat caused by an infection. You can find out more about the difference between hayfever and cold symptoms in our guide. If you think your sore throat is caused by an infection, please speak to a pharmacist for advice on how to help relieve some of the discomfort.
How to treat a sore throat from hayfever
Although the obvious treatment for a sore throat would be to reach for throat lozenges, the best thing you can do is to treat your hayfever symptoms with aids such as antihistamine tablets or liquid, nasal sprays, and eye drops. It’s a good idea to also consider applying a barrier such as petroleum jelly (like Vaseline), around your nose to help trap pollen and stop it from entering your body. While you may think these won’t address your sore throat, treating hayfever should help ease your sore throat.
You may also want to consider:
• Drinking plenty of water – this can help thin the mucus
• Propping your head up with a few extra pillows at night – this helps to reduce the mucus build up in the back of your throat when you lie flat
Want to know more? Take a look at the hayfever advice from our Boots pharmacists.
Can I prevent hayfever?
While you can’t prevent hayfever itself, you can take certain measures to help ease the severity of symptoms. These include:
• Taking antihistamines – if you know what time of year your symptoms usually start, it’s a good idea to start taking antihistamines two to four weeks before this to give your body the best protection
• Check the pollen count – if you know it’s going to be high, you can take the appropriate steps to prepare
• Shower and change your clothes – if you’ve been outside, washing the pollen off can help keep symptoms at bay
• Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth – this helps to remove stubborn pollen from surfaces
• Wear wraparound sunglasses – these will help prevent pollen reaching your eyes, as opposed to normal sunglasses
• Don’t dry your clothes outside – while it may be quicker, the pollen can cling to your clothes, making symptoms worse
• Keep windows and doors closed as much as possible – this makes it much harder for the pollen to reach you in the first place
• Stay inside whenever possible – this is easier said than done but it’s all about adapting your plans around those high pollen count days to help ease your symptoms
• Limit your exposure –try to avoid things like mowing the lawn or keeping fresh flowers in the house
• Consider buying an air purifier – this can be super helpful as they help reduce unwanted air particles and pollutants from your space
• Regularly groom pets – they can carry pollen on their fur so it’s best togive them a quick rub down with a damp cloth before they come inside
When to see a GP
If your hayfever symptoms are getting worse and aren’t improving after taking over-the-counter medicines or trying any of the above barrier methods and tips, speak to your GP. Alternatively, you may wish to consider the Boots Online Doctor Hayfever Treatment service*, if suitable for you.
