Tips for hay fever sufferers taking exams

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis affects millions of people in the UK each summer. It is a reaction of the body to airborne allergens such as pollens and spores, triggering the usual symptoms including sneezing, congestion, dry and stuffy nose, runny nose, itchy eyes, disrupted sleep and difficulty concentrating, the last thing needed at exam time.

Here are my tips to help students battle through hay fever and get the best grade they can:
 

• Get a good night's sleep. Staying up working all night isn't good for your health and can also make the hay fever worse.  Make sure that your child rests and has around eight hours sleep a night so they feel refreshed for the next day.
• Encourage your teenager to use Sterimar Isotonic "Nasal Hygiene". It is a pure, natural sea water nasal spray that helps keep noses healthy by cleaning and clearing nasal passages.  Sterimar very quickly and gently clears pollen, dust and other airborne allergens from the nose, working on the actual cause of hay fever and allergies to relieve symptoms.
• It is a good idea for your child to speak to their teacher about their hay fever before the exams begin so that they are aware of the problem. It would also be a wise idea to request a seat away from the window.
• You can reduce symptoms of hay fever by staying indoors on days when the pollen count is high.  So, if your child usually walks to school and you have a car, give them a lift so that they will have less contact with allergens lying in wait outside. 
• Try to keep away from areas where there is more pollen like in grassy parks. This is especially important in the early morning and late afternoon and evening when the pollen count is at its peak.
• Avoid using sedating antihistamines that have been found to have adverse effects on attention span, working memory, vigilance and speed.   Instead consider using a natural remedy, like Sterimar that's made of natural sea water.
• Wrap-around sunglasses worn while outside helps to keep pollen out of your eyes and subsequent eye watering and irritation. 
• Keep an eye on the weather reports, many of which now say when the pollen count is high.  On days when it is high, make sure that you don't hang your washing outside as pollen can get trapped in the fibres of the clothes. On bad hay fever days, it's also a good idea for your child to have a shower after coming indoors to wash off all the pollen that they may have got on their body. 
• If your child is really suffering, speak to your local pharmacist, GP or practice nurse. If it is particularly bad this may be taken into account by your exam board.