Anyone else struggling with the pollen

[staceycorinne]

Does anyone else struggle with the excess pollen and foliage this time of year.

All my usual running paths are becoming over grown and I’m starting to feel claustrophobic and hay fever is getting very annoying. Doesn’t help that I’m also asthmatic.

Any advice on how to manage running in these conditions? I really want to enjoy the warmer weather outside so I’m unsure what to do.

Thanks for your help!

Stacey

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Definitely Stacey! I make sure I blow my nose well before leaving home and use Beconase nasal spray just as I leave. I take antihistamines every day but I do one in the morning, certirizine and one at night, loratadine to make sure the full 24 hrs is well covered. Sunglasses help provide a barrier to the eyes as do contact lenses.

Some is in the mind too though.

Try to jump in the shower straight after and get all the pollen out of your hair and eyes.

Lastly, try to avoid the most overgrown trails! 👍😁

[staceycorinne in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks!

I there a difference between certirizine and loratadine. I currently take cert. in the morning. But none at night I should start that.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to staceycorinne]

There is a difference. I find cetirizine more effective but I take the loratadine just to cross cover too.

Talk to your gp. If you're really struggling ask for levocetirizine which is prescription only but is more effective.

Alternatively when its bad I take two tablets of cetirizine a day which my gp had approved.

For eyes if they're really bad I recommend Olapatadine drops, again prescription only.

Opticrom eyedrops over the counter are good too.

[Jay66UK Graduate]

I recommend a nasal spray on top of tablets - I use Beconase but there are many out there.

The overgrown foliage is causing me a safety issue - there are parts of my run where I either have to limbo under or run into the road around, both of which put me off my pace and (if ducking) disrupting my breath.

I hope you find a solution that works for you.

[staceycorinne in reply to Jay66UK]

Will try the nasal spray.

Thank you!

[Hidden]

I have mild asthma. One of my main hayfever triggers is grass pollen, levels of which have recently been and continue to be high or very high right now where I live. However, instead of the wheezing and breathlessness of previous years, I'm feeling at most slight stinging in the eyes and a slightly itchy nose and the odd sneeze here and there.

In the New Year, someone challenged me to do Veganuary and I've ended up staying with it, because after a week of it, for the first time in decades, I found I was no longer waking up with a nose and chest full of muck, which used to happen every morning in and out of hayfever season. I'm not using my blue inhaler at all now, again a first for years. I think being dairy-free is the main factor in this massive and very welcome change, because I've heard many people say dairy products promote mucus production. Maybe you could experiment with temporarily reducing the amount of milk and cheese you eat to see if that helps at all?

[staceycorinne in reply to Hidden]

That sounds promising! Will give it ago. Thank you.

[Pippayoungart Graduate]

I’ve been running in the early morning - possibly less pollen at that time of day?

[staceycorinne in reply to Pippayoungart]

yeah There probably is. I do enjoy my early morning or late night runs better. - that probably why.

[Sortyourlife]

I’ve suffered on and off with hayfever for like probably nearly 10 years now. Some years it’s a lot worse than others, some years I can’t really notice.

This year I just seem to have uncontrollable sneezing? And it’s horrible by the time I finish my run coz my nose is just a mess lol!