Man missed job interviews and household occasions on account of ‘frustrating’ hay fever
Hay fever is an allergic response to pollen, which impacts round 1 / 4 of individuals within the UK.
It is worst between March and September when the pollen depend is at its highest.
While symptoms such as sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes could appear delicate they are often debilitating for a lot of victims – even limiting what they can do within the hotter months.
This has been the case for one 29-year-old man his complete life.
Hay fever sufferer Ben Franklin, from Ealing in London, shared how his situation has had a devastating affect all through his life, leading to him having to overlook vital occasions similar to job interviews and household gatherings.
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”I’ve suffered with hay fever for so long as I can bear in mind,” he stated.
“It was especially bad throughout my childhood – I remember having to leave birthday parties early because my symptoms would flare up.
“I once had to cancel a job interview two hours before it was meant to happen because I woke up and couldn’t see because my eyes were swollen shut.
“I even had to send a picture to prove it so they didn’t think I was being unprofessional.
“I have also had to have time off work because my eyes were watering so severely that I couldn’t see straight and I was sneezing all over the place.”
Ben finds the impact on his eyes essentially the most troublesome of his signs.
He stated: “I’ve suffered from all the usual hay fever symptoms, the worst being itchy eyes.
“I’ll be with my friends and family at outdoor events and everyone will ask me why I’m getting so emotional. It’s frustrating and embarrassing to then have to explain that it’s just hay fever.
“What surprises me is that my symptoms can come on so suddenly too, and then last throughout the night.
“During the summer, I don’t get enough sleep because I’m just so uncomfortable – I will be tossing and turning all night.”
He added: “Every year I get excited about the prospect of summer – the lighter evenings and warmer days.
“But in reality, when my friends try and make plans with me, I have to steer them towards an indoor venue or somewhere high up, like a rooftop bar, to try and reduce my exposure to pollen.
“And even then, I regularly leave early or end up pulling out at the last minute to limit my exposure.”
Luckily Ben has discovered a approach to assist handle his signs.
He defined: “I like to think that I finally have my hay fever routine sorted – I take one antihistamine a day no matter what, all year round, and if I am going to an outdoor event, I’ll introduce other treatment options like nasal sprays to try and lessen the impact.”
How frequent are debilitating signs?
Research by hay fever aid model Clarityn revealed that one in three (32 p.c) hay fever victims within the UK can’t see their family and friends on account of signs, whereas slightly below half (41 p.c) admit that their hay fever is “debilitating”.
The analysis from Clarityn additionally confirmed that just about one in three (38 p.c) admit days out with their household are impacted by hay fever.
According to the NHS, the most typical signs of hay fever embody:
- Sneezing and coughing
- A runny or blocked nostril
- Itchy, purple or watery eyes
- Itchy throat, mouth, nostril and ears
- Loss of odor
- Pain round your temples and brow
- Headache
- Earache
- Feeling drained.
A pharmacist can provide recommendation and counsel the very best therapies for hay fever.