Allergies

Allergies: the flipside of spring.

While many of us welcome the early signs of spring, others are less keen. Why? Because the change of seasons can trigger several allergies – and that’s irritating in many ways.

Eczema

It seems disingenuous that escaping the house – and the dry heat of central heating – might              trigger eczema. But here we are.

While these scaly patches of dry, itchy, inflamed skin can flare up any time of the year, seasonal eczema, or atopic dermatitis, makes both the winter and spring two seasons to avoid.

The change in ambient temperature, driven by either the rotation of the Earth, or switching on the central heating, are key triggers for flare ups.

To be sure you have atopic eczema (the terms are often interchangeable) you will have had an itchy skin condition in the last 12 months and three or more symptoms as listed by the NHS.

Similarly, spring is open season for other allergies that share many of eczema’s symptoms. It pays to know what you’re dealing with.

Hayfever

By no means confined to the warm, humid, and windy weather of late March and September, this is still peak hayfever time.

If you’re vulnerable to hayfever, when the pollen count is in the red, the chances are that your eyes will be itchy and inflamed too. If you know, you know. Hayfever isn’t treatable as such, but the NHS offer valuable tips on how to keep the multiple symptoms at bay. We can also help, as we’ll discuss.

Seasonal rhinitis, (hayfever) shares symptoms with perennial (year-round) allergic rhinitis as this Allergy UK webpage points out. However, unlike other allergies, it is linked with spring. Simply put, seasonal rhinitis is your body’s reaction to the release of pollen from grass, trees and weeds (normally when they are being cut or treated) and we’re right in the middle of birch pollen season.

And if your symptoms include a tight feeling in your chest, shortness of breath, wheezing and/or coughing, then you may be looking at a more serious proposition altogether.

Asthma

The charity Asthma+Lung UK describes asthma triggers as anything that “irritates your airways and sets off your asthma symptoms”. And that includes our always-quirky climate. “Our weather is unpredictable, and … it’s important to stick to a good routine of taking your preventer inhaler every day as prescribed,” says Dr Andy Whittamore. "That way you’re on top of your asthma whatever the UK weather throws at you.”

The same charity urge asthma sufferers to recognise where symptoms are rather more than a seasonal oddity. Those using blue reliever inhalers will be wise to note this advice.

Be warned.

Increasing symptoms of any allergy should not necessarily be dismissed as a seasonal idiosyncrasy. For example, more (or new) asthma symptoms indicate that airways are getting more inflamed and narrower. While it could just be a case of increased pollen in the air, an asthma attack cannot be easily ignored if you recognise the red flags given above.

Coda can help.

Many of the shared symptoms of these seasonal (and perennial) allergies can be treated with antihistamines, and our online pharmacy has all you need. Please remember, though, that if you think you may be developing asthma – it can appear at any time – then speak to your GP first.

And if you need help, Allergy UK have factsheets to help with asthma and other respiratory allergies.

So, if you are new to us, and want to be part of the Coda story as it unfolds, then call us on 01323 924038. One of our growing pharmacy team will order your medication from your surgery and arrange your next delivery straight to your door. It’s that simple. Alternatively, register here for our prescription delivery service today, or just drop us a line and we’ll be in touch.

You can also register online at www.codapharmacy.co.uk